Summary of the verification scheme
Name of the system

Name in home language: Независимое Подтверждение ЛегальностиЛесопродукции

Related Area
General overview ofverification

Scheme to check forlegality at the time oflogging

Scheme of separative
custody management

Future Task andPerspectives

Reference Author

Name in English: Validation of Legal Timber Programme (SGS VLTP)
Region /Country: Far East / Russia
Party responsible for issuing verification
Name: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance
Location: 1, place des Alpes, CH-1211 Geneva Switzerland
Communication: antoine.delarochefordiere@sgs.com
Outline of issuing process
The verification process combines regular audits of a company’s timber production andtraceability system, continuous data monitoring, and unannounced inspections at production
sites.
The system shall verify legality only /or both sustainability
SGS VLTP shall verify legality and some aspects of sustainability that related withsustainable usage of forest resources (trees), protected areas, impacts of logging activity toenvironment etc.
Definition of legality
Definition of legality formed by regional Standard for the Verification of Legality in the forest
sector under the SGS VLTP. This standard consist 9 principles, 26 criteria and 68
indicators.
Relevant laws
Federal and regional Forestry and Environment legislative acts consist of more than 30
documents.
Details of presumed illegal activities
Cuttings without permits; logged in excess of allowed amounts; logged beyond allotment
borders; wood of a species forbidden from cutting or not permitted to be cut on a site; wood
logged with a violation of cutting technology; Industrial wood logged over the fixed quota inthe conduct of intermediate cuttings; evasion of royalties, taxes and other forest charges
Procedures for retaining and verifying the evidence
Verification/ auditing incl. documentary checks, field inspections; coordination withauthorities for data collection and field verifications; continuous and systematic datamanagement; computerised log/ timber tracking (optional); remote sensing (satellite
imagery, aerial photography) in coordination with authorities
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability
All verification procedures are managing and executing by the third party (SGS VLTP
Agency) under SGS General Conditions of Services that ensure reliability and international
creditability
Real picture of the dealings, from logging to export
The schemes of separative custody management in Khabarovsk region includes directexport shipment from producers (logging, logging&processing, processing) companies andimporters and export through special timber trade companies. Each company is responsiblefor implementing a CoC system for its unique circumstances
Procedure for ensuring separative custody management
SGS VLTP Standard consist chain of custody (CoC) requirements (Principle 7) that areauditing during verification process by third party with issuing SGS VLTP/CoC Statements
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability
All verification procedures are managing and executing by the third party (SGS VLTPAgency) under SGS General Conditions of Services that ensure reliability and international
creditability
Criticisms against the system and recognition of problems
Some stakeholders are not happy with legal verification systems and prefer the much higher
standard of sustainable certification instead.
Remediation procedure
Extensive stakeholder consultation and participation during verification process as observer
can ease such criticisms
Future perspectives
Implementing in the other regions of Russian FederationWeb site
URL www.forestry.sgs.com
Contact: Zakharenkov Andrey, Project manager of Forest monitoring programme in Russia,
SGS Vostok Limited
Email address Andrey.Zakharenkov@sgs.com