G/LIC/N/2/GBR/5  
 
24 February  2021 
(21-1586) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English   
 
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF THE AGREEMENT1 
UNITED KINGDOM  
The following notification dated  2 February  2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United Kingdom . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  United Kingdom  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Retained EU la w2: 
1.  Council Regulation (EC) No . 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005 
on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports 
of timber into the European Community . 
2.  Commission Regulation (EC) No . 1024/2008 of 
17 October  2008 laying down detailed measures for the 
implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No . 2173/2005 on 
the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of 
timber into the European Community . 
UK legislation : 
3.  The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade 
Regulations 2012 . 
4.  The Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (EU Exit) 
Regulations 2018 .  
5.  The Environment and Wildlife (Legislative Functions)  (EU exit) 
Regulations 2019 . 
6.  The Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU 
Exit) Regu lation 2020. 
3 Date of Publication  
 1. 20 December 2005  
2. 17 October 2008  
3. 30 January 2012  
4. 25 September 2018  
5. 26 February 2019  
6. 19 November 2020  
4 Date of entry into force  
 1. 20 December 2005  
2. 17 October 2008  
3. 20 February 2012  
4. 31 December 2020 
5. 31 December 2020 
6. 31 December 2020 
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 Some European Union law was retained in UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 
2018 and the European Union (W ithdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, with minor modifications to ensure 
operability.  
 G/LIC/N/2/GBR/5  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2005/2173/contents  
2. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/1024/contents#   
3. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/178/made  
4. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1025/made  
5. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/473/made  
6. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1315/contents/made  
6 Have you attached a copy 
of the regulation (PDF) to 
the Secretariat  [ ] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[x] No. 
7 Type of notification  [X] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure3; (please answer 
question 8 to 14)  
 
[ ] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been previously 
notified in document: ______________ ; (please answer question 15 
and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  • 4403 Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or 
sapwood, or roughly squared.  
• 4406 Railway or tramway sleepers (cross -ties) of wood.  
• 4407 Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, 
whether or not planed, sanded or end -jointed, of a thickness 
exceeding 6 mm.  
• 4408 Sheets for veneering (including those obtained by slicing 
laminated wood), for plywood or for other similar laminate d 
wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, 
whether or not planed, sanded, spliced or end -jointed, of a 
thickness not exceeding 6mm.  
• 4412 Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  [ ] 
 
Non-Automatic: [X] 
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
 
11 Administrative body(ies) 
for submission of 
applications   
 Office for Product Safety and Standards  
Lower Ground Floor  
Victoria Square House  
Victoria Square  
Birmingham  
B2 4AJ  
United Kingdom  
Tel: +44 (0)121 345 1200  
 
flegtenquiries@beis.gov.uk   
 
3 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the firs t time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/GBR/5  
 
- 3 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Office for Product Safety and Standards  
Lower Ground Floor  
Victoria Square House  
Victoria Square  
Birmingham  
B2 4AJ  
United Kingdom  
Tel: +44 (0)121 345 1200  
 
flegtenquiries@beis.gov.uk   
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure  Ongoing . 
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages  The FLEGT licensing scheme is a voluntary scheme to ensure that 
only legally harvested timber is imported into the UK from countries 
with which the UK concludes bilateral FLEGT Voluntary Partnership 
Agreements (VPAs). Under the scheme a partner country iss ues 
FLEGT licences for every shipment of timber products covered by 
the agreement exported to the UK.   
 
Guidance  available at : 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu -timber -regulation -guidance -for-
business -and-industry  
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official 
languages)  
  
 
 
 
 
__________