International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012
違法伐採対策合法証明木材等に関する国際セミナー2012

Date: 11th, November. 2012 (Sun)
Venue: PACIFICO YOKOHAMA Conference Center Room503

Organized by Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations(JFWIA)
Supported by Forestry Agency of Japan,
International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO)

Organizer’s Opening Address for the International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012

As just introduced, my name is Motoaki Okuma.
Let me express my gratitude to all of you for gathering here from early in themorning to attend today’s International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012.
Today in particular, we have many participants, including five guest commentatorsfrom overseas. On behalf of the organizer, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome
and appreciation to all of you.
In Japan, efforts to establish and disseminate a supply system for legality-verified
wood, which we call “goho-wood,” based on Forest Agency guidelines, have been mademainly by related industry groups in order to respond to international trends, in terms of
measures to control illegal logging, strengthen the Forest Act, and promote trade. Thissystem, in which the wood’s legality and other information about wood and wood
products are conveyed to consumers through a series of certificates issued by member
companies authorized by related industry groups following a specific procedure, haswidely spread throughout Japan.
We believe that this activity, viewed worldwide as Japan’s commitment togoho-wood, has the potential of becoming a global standard, rather than only remainingthat of Japan. Today’s schedule follows a meeting of the Board of Directors of theInternational Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), which ended yesterday, and I
expect that this seminar will provide a good opportunity for those from overseas
involved in the Organization to expand their wisdom and discuss future prospects.
In Part 1 in the morning, a speech by Executive Director Akihiko Araya of theForest Economic Research Institute is scheduled where reports will be made fromvarious angles on Japan’s efforts to verify the legality of woods, which are aimed at theillegal logging issue. In Part 2 in the afternoon, with Chief Takeshi Toma of thePartnership Promotion Office of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institutepresiding as Chair, participants, including overseas guests, will hold a discussion under
the theme “The significance of and problems in Japan’s verification of the legality ofwood and wood products, from an international perspective.” I am very happy both
excellent Japanese leading forestry economist and scientist kindly take the role ofcoordinators of this seminar.
My specialty is the processing and utilization of wood. I would like to voice mypersonal opinion from the perspective of my specialty. The purpose of people who1utilize wood is to create good products and build good houses. To this end, top priority
must be placed on securing wood as a raw material whose quality and performance has
been verified. However, Goho-Wood and Certified Forest Products are not products
whose quality has been guaranteed. So, I believe that cooperation is needed with such
systems as the Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS) that define quality.
In other words, lumber and wood products, unlike industrial products such as steel
and plastics, are biological resources that are produced naturally in a forest. Whenconsidering our close relationship with forests and their environmental preservation, we
should be deeply aware that wood products are special products that need to be properly
judged through a comprehensive evaluation that incorporates evaluations of legality,
performance of environmental preservation, and resource sustainability, in addition toquality assurance.
The production and utilization of wood is positioned as a basic system forsustainably securing and utilizing resources that supports the 21st century. I believe thatin the course of establishing such a system, our efforts related to goho-wood will play
an important role.
We would appreciate it if you recognize the significance of our efforts related togoho-wood from a global perspective and express your candid opinions, which will beincorporated into our efforts related to goho-wood.
Thank you very much for your attention.
November 11, 2012
Motoaki Okuma
Chairmanthe Council for Tackling Illegal Logging
and Promotion of Goho-wood
Japan Federation of Wood-industry Associations

2

International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012
Index of Handout
Opening address
Outline and program of the seminar-------------------------------------------------------------Part I
1

1

Reports from Participants

Keynote Speech(1)Japan’s

Experience in Addressing Illegal Logging

Mr. Osamu Hashiramato (Director, International Trade Office, Forestry
Agency) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7(2)Lessons from legality verification by timber associations for the Japanese
domestic market and its potential to become an international standard
Dr. Takashi Fujiwara (Managing Director, JFWIA)----------------------------2

15

Reports from Industry Associations’ (summary of the report)(1)Mr. Mitsuru Takafuji (Managing Director, Hokkaido Federation of Wood
Industry Associations )----------------------------------------------------------------------

19(2)Mr. Susumu Kawakita （Executive Director, Japan Plywood
Manufacturers’ Association）------------------------------------------------------------

23(3)Mr. Yasuhiro Ohashi（Executive Director, Japan Lumber Importers
Association）-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

27

Reports from Users(1)Mr. Hideaki Kurihara (General Manager, Technical Department,
Karimoku Furniture Inc.)-----------------------------------------------------------------(2)Mr. Koichi Sato,(Secretary General, Ibaraki Morikaraie-Housing-Net)

31
35

Part II: Panel Discussion (Summary of the comment)(1)Ms. Luo Xinjian, (Associate research fellow, Research Institute of Policy
and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry)------------------------------------

41(2)Dr. Agus Sarsito (Director for Forestry Development Control, Regional I,
Ministry of Forestry)-------------------------------------------------------------------------

45(3)Ms. Annie Ting (Senior Manager, Sarawak Timber Association)--------------

47(4)Mr. Andre de Boer (Secretary General , the European Timber Trade
Federation )-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

49(5)Mr. Jameson French, (Ex-Chairman, US Hardwood Federation)--------------

51

Reference
O Guideline for Verification on Legality and Sustainability of Wood andWood Products-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

55

Nov. 11 2012

Outline of International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012
Initiatives by Industry Associations in Japan to Combat Illegal Logging andto Promote Legality Verification of Wood and Wood Products

1.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTVES OF THE SEMINAR
In Japan, associations related to wood and wood products have contributed to thegovernment and international efforts on combating illegal logging and associated tradeby developing and promoting the globally known “Goho(legal)- wood” supply system.
This system is in line with the Guideline for the Verification of Legality andSustainability of Wood and Wood Products developed by the Forestry Agency of Japan.
The Goho-wood system ensures consumers the legality of the products through thechain of documentations issued by authorized companies which are accredited byindustrial associations. The principle of the system has been applied to the Guideline
for Woody Biomass for Generation of Electricity, which were recently developed by the
Forestry Agency of Japan.
This international seminar is organized by the Japan Federation of Wood Industry
Associations (JFWIA) to inform international participants as well as domestic
stakeholders about the Goho-wood system and its implementation including its future
prospects. In order to have wider range of international participants, the seminar will
be held back to back with the ITTC sessions.

2

GENERAL INFORMATION(1) DATE:

Sunday 11, November 2012 (The following day of ITTC)(2) VENUE:

Pacifico Yokohama #503 Meeting Room

(3) Organizer:

Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations (JFWIA)(4) Sponsor:

Forestry Agency of Japan(5)Supported by: International Tropical Timber Organization

1

3

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Opening Session（1000-1220:TBA）
Part I: Reports from Participants （1025-1215:TBA）
Efforts to tackle Illegal logging and associated trade: timber legality
verification system by Japanese Industry Associations’This session introduces the Goho-wood system which provides legality verified
timber and wood products to consumers. The system is based on documentation
issued by authorized companies which are accredited by industrial associations.
This method of verification is in line with procedures specified in the Forestry
Agency’s Guideline. The session aims to clarify the implication of the Goho-woodinitiative in the global trade.
Moderator: Dr Akihiko Araya (Chairman of Forest Economic Research Institute)
Speakers: Representatives from Forestry Agency, timber industries housing
industry, and furniture industry (TBC)

Part II: Panel Discussion（1315-1600:TBA）
The significance and challenges of the Japanese timber legality verification
system from an international perspective
This session evaluates the implementation of the Goho-wood initiative anddiscusses its challenges and future potential of from a perspective of foreign timbercompanies and stakeholders who have concern about illegal logging and associatedtrade.
Moderator: Dr Takeshi Toma (Head, Partnership Promotion Office, Bureau ofInternational Partnership, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute(FFPRI)))
Panelists: Representatives from related sectors such as business, governments,from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA and EU (TBC)

4. Exciting Board
Name
Dr.

Title
TakeshiToma

Head, Partnership Promotion Office, Bureau ofInternational

Partnership, Forestry and

Science

ForestProducts Research Institute (FFPRI)
Ms.

Yuki

Sakamoto
Mr.

FairWoodCampaign

Organizer,

The

GlobalENGO

Environmental Forum (GEF)
Yasuhiro

Executive

Director,

Japan

LumberImporters

Importer

Ohashi

Associations

Dr. Akihiko Araya

Chairman of Forest Economic Research InstituteEconomics

Mr.

Executive Director, Japan Plywood Manufacturers

Timber

Association

Industry

Managing Director, Japan Federation of Wood

TimberIndustry Associations

Industry

SusumuKawakitaDr.
Fujiwara

Takashi2

3

Program of International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012

Initiatives by Industry Associations in Japan to Combat Illegal Logging andto Promote Legality Verification of Wood and Wood Products○Opening Session (10.00-10.20)
Greeting from Chairman of Council for Tackling Illegal Logging andPromotion of Goho-wood,
Remarks from Forestry Agency,○Part I

Reports from Participants(10.25-12.15)

Efforts to tackle Illegal logging and associated trade in Japan (Goho-Wood):
Timber legality verification system by Japanese Industry Associations’’
Moderator: Dr Akihiko Araya (Chairman of Forest Economic Research Institute)Time

Agenda10.25 Keynote Speech (1)Japan’sExperience
Addressing Illegal Logging

PersonMr.

Osamu

Hashiramatoin (Director, International
Office, Forestry Agency)

Trade

10.45 Keynote Speech (2)Dr. Takashi Fujiwara (Managing
Lessonsfromlegality Director, Japan Federation ofverification
bytimber Wood Industry Associations)associations for the Japanese
domestic
marketandits
potential
tobecomeaninternational standard
Reports from Industry Associations’
11.00 Supply System and Promotion of Mr. Mitsuru Takafuji (Managing
Goyo-wood in Hokkaido
Director, Hokkaido Federation ofWood Industry Associations )11.10 Activities for Goho-wood of Plywood Mr. Susumu Kawakita （Executive
Industry in Japan
Director,Japan
Plywood
Manufacturers’ Association）
11.25

Mr. Yasuhiro Ohashi （ Executive
Director, Japan Lumber Importers
Association）

11.40 Reports from Users

Mr. Hideaki Kurihara (General
Manager, Technical Department,

Karimoku Furniture Inc.)Mr.
Koichi
Sato,
Secretary
General,IbarakiMorikaraie-Housing-Net
12.00 Closing Comments
1215

Dr. Akihiko Araya

Closing○Part II: Panel Discussion（1315-1600:）
The significance and challenges of the Japanese timber legality
verification system from an international perspective
Moderator: Dr Takeshi Toma (Head, Partnership Promotion Office, Bureau ofInternational Partnership, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI)))

Time

AgendaPerson13.15 Opening Remarks

Dr Takeshi Toma

13.25 Panel Discussion（Ⅰ）

Related persons from Exporting

Brief presentations by foreign Countries
guest commentators
Ms.
Luo
Xinjian,
Associateresearch fellow, Research Institute14.30 Breakof Policy and Information, Chinese
Academy of Forestry
Dr. Agus Sarsito, Director for
Forestry Development Control,
14.45 Panel Discussion（Ⅱ）
Regional I, Ministry of Forestry
Possibility of Activities of
Ms. Annie Ting, Senior Manager,
Industry Associations for illegal
Sarawak Timber Association
logging issue
Mr. Andre de Boer, Secretary
General , the European Timber
Trade Federation
Mr. Jameson French, Chairman,
US Hardwood Federation
15.45 General Discussion
Closing Remarks
16.00 Closing

Open to the floor
Dr Takeshi Toma

Part1

Lessons from legality verification by timber associations for the Japanese
domestic market and its potential to become an international standard
Takashi Fujiwara, Managing Director
Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations
1

Introduction
The Japanese Forest Agency introduced a Guideline describing a method to ensure
timber legality from the point of harvest through the supply chain. The methodauthorizes companies that are accredited by associations to provide legality
verification (a kind of environmental quality information) to timber demanders andconsumers. After 6 years implementation of the Guideline, this method has been
serving not only for the Green Purchase Act but also other relevant subsidy services
including that of promoting Long-Life Quality Housing by Ministiry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. I would like to introduce the significance of
this well established system in the international context.

2

The experience of legality verification by companies authorized by associations(1) Overview of Japanese timber industry organization
Japan has tens of thousands of timber companies including loggers, saw millers,
distributers and manufacturers. Nearly twenty thousands of them are organized
in industry-groupe organizations like regional cooperatives, prefectural-scaleassociations and nation-wide associations per type of businesses.
(2) Process of authorization by associations
Timber related associations that want to authorize their member companies
according to the Forestry Agency’s Guideline shall establish the self-disciplinary
code of conduct (anti illegal logging, support to governmental policies and promote
the effort actively etc), publish the developed authorization procedure andpromote it to their own member companies. The member companies that want to
be authorized assign the responsible person and develop the policy on
management

systemofproduct

separation

fromnon-verified

products,

documented management procedures etc following to the standard to submit totheir authorizing association. Once authorized, the company can issue theverification for their products as long as they are made up of only verified material.
The chain of verifications according to the business chain enables the buyers to15

ensure the legality of timber.
At present, 142 associations have been registered and 8,600 companies areauthorized.

(For

more

informationin

Englishplease

go

this

link

http://www.goho-wood.jp/world/. Also please view our short movie (in English andChinese available) from the link)(3) Legality information from the point of origin
For domestic timber, the point of origin of legality is the harvest permission by thePrefectural Governor (if from conservation forest) or “notifications of harvest andsilviculture” submitted to the mayor (if from privately owned forest).
In the case of imported timber, 1) verification by authorized associations, 2) forest
certification schemes or 3) export permissions which are linked to the evidence of
harvest origin and accredited by specific countries (i.e. Indonesian BRIK
endorsement (to be reformed to TLAS system) and Malaysian endorsed export
permission) are eligible. Goho Secretariat welcomes the information related to theverification and willing to make open discussion and make the information
publicly available. When question arises, we will open for further discussion.
3

The significance of having a chain of authorized companies(1) The importance of information on the environmental quality of timber
Timber is recognized and promoted as an alternative of fossil resources; arenewable resource, helping to fix carbon. However, illegally logged timber canhave the opposite effect.

It is important to provide environmental quality

information of timber products including burden and contribution on theenvironment of the production process of the products no matter where it was
harvested and distributed. For example, the exporter of FLEGT-licensed timber to
EU market would like to have identification system in EU market of theirproducts for the consumers in EU. . Therefore, we need an efficient system of
distributing information to compete materials sourced from underground.
(2) Timber trade has complicated supply chains
Petroleum-based materials and metals which compete against timbers are notdifficult to trace especially in the production process with only limited players
involved. In contrast, timber usually goes through many hands and comes fromvarious sources and has countless harvest origins and production stages and paths,
the business network is more diverse from upstream to downstream. It is
impossible to keep monitored the whole timber market through whole supply
chain by a third party. It is important to utilize the registered association’s
16wide-range existing network for distributing information.
(3) Diversity of origin of environmental quality information of timber
Apart from how to manage the legality information, distributing environmental
quality information is important as long as it clarifies the any kind of source of
information.
For example, The Goho-wood model verification chain system is now also requiredin the verification of wooden chip sourced from thinning operation, responding toGreen Purchase Act (“Guideline for verifying wooden chip sourced from thinning
operation” Forest Agency, July 2009) and the identification of “unused wooden
biomass produced from forest harvesting and thinning” to address act on special
measures for procurement of renewable energy by electric power suppliers(“Guideline for verifying wooden biomass used for power generation” June 2012).
(4) Global potential of Goho-wood
Consumers will become demanding various information about environmental
burdens or contributions of production process of timber. Industry sectors arerequested to cooperate each others for utilization of business network for the
mission. The Goho-wood may have such flexible potential in Japan and also
possible in global context as the minimum systemic infrastructure to be adopted
for any type of scheme.
4

Credibility of authorized associations system
Our challenge is ensuring the credibility. As the Goho-wood doesn’t include third
party monitoring, the solution must be the open information.
When even only one company in the supply chain failed to follow the standard, it
affects on whole credibility. It is vital to ensure opening information of verification
issuance process by individual companies and transparency of legality evidences.
At present, I identified the challenges Japan needs to address as 1) moretransparent public information by associations, 2) establishment of common
monitoring procedures.

17

18

Summary of the Report for the International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 (Part 1)(Wood suppliers’ side)

Name

Mitsuru Takafuji

Title

Executive Director

Organization nameHokkaido Federation of Wood Industry Cooperative Associations

1. Brief introduction of the organization(1) Establishment
September 1950 (A federation of cooperative associations based on the Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprise Cooperatives Act)
(2) Purpose of the association
To implement joint projects necessary for its members, to promote its members’ economic
activities and to help improve their economic status(3) Organization of the association
The members of the association include cooperative associations comprising operators in theforest, wood products manufacturing industries, and building materials retailers, as well as
supporting members who intend to cooperate with the association’s operations.
No. of members: 44 cooperative associations, 132 supporting members(4) Major projects
Projects related to bolstering demand for wood which are implemented for its members
Information provision and dissemination of knowledge related to management and technologicalimprovement of its members’ business
Projects related to surveys and research conducted for business of its members, etc.

2. Outline and dissemination of “goho (legal)-wood” activities(1) Pursuant to the Guideline for Verification on Legality and Sustainability of Wood and Wood
Products announced by the Forestry Agency of Japan, the association established its “Code of
Conduct” and “Procedure to Authorize Member Companies,” and initiated authorization from
August 2006.
(2) The association has so far authorized 441 business operators, including loggers, sawmillers, woodprocessors, and wood distributors.

19

Type

Members of cooperative
associations andsupporting members

Non-members

Total

No. of operators authorizedat the end of March 2012

263

178

441

(3) The volume of legally verified wood supplied by the association’s authorized member companies
in FY2011 was approximately 400,000 m 3 (78% of their total shipment)(4) Dissemination and public relations activities[Dissemination]• Sent posters and brochures to and asked municipalities throughout Hokkaido to take measuresagainst illegal logging and to promote dissemination and raise public awareness among citizens.
• Implemented dissemination and public relations activities by distributing brochures for general
consumers at such opportunities as events related to forest owners, forestry or the wood industry.
[Public relations activities]• Introduced its efforts in measures against illegal logging on the association’s website, which also
includes the Code of Conduct for measures against illegal logging, Procedure to Authorize
Member Companies, and names of authorized member companies

Dissemination and public relations activities at events20

3. Activities to secure credibility(1) Monitoring (on-site inspection)• Visit 100 selected business operators every year, and confirm the status of separation of
goho-wood from other wood and the management of reports & forms(Survey items) • Record of buying and shipment of goho-wood• Method to confirm purchased goho-wood on-the-spot• Confirmation of preserved documents on the verification of legality• Status of separation and management Goho-wood from other wood
• The status of requesting the verification of the legality of wood and wood
products from the consignee[Example of separation and management] Separation and management through indication with amarker(Logs)(Sawn wood)(2) Training Seminar• The Training Seminar for Goho-wood Suppliers is held annually in two blocks, with a total of six
blocks having been held, in Hokkaido.
Year

2010

2011

2012

No. of trainees

72

108

141

Sapporo &Obihiro &Asahikawa &Hakodate Cities

Kushiro Cities

Kitami Cities

Training venues

21Summary of the Report for the International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 (Part 1)

4. Evaluation from demand side
• With an increasing number of national governmental and other subsidy programs making
mandatory the use of goho-wood for the construction of institutional buildings and houses, there
is a year-on-year growing demand for the use of goho-wood on the wood supplier side.
• Although recognition of goho-wood among general consumers is still quite low, inquiries about
goho-wood have been increasing recently from architect offices and builders.

5. Problems to be solved(1) Requests for the government• Expand the subsidy system for the construction of wooden public facilities using goho-wood• Provide special tax treatment and eco-points for houses built by using goho-wood(2) Requests regarding imported wood
• The establishment of a mechanism by each country to monitor their wood for export, in order notexport illegally logged wood from the countries.
• Since the verification method for illegally logged wood varies according the country, it is often
difficult to confirm the method in each case. Therefore, if there is any labeling method that would
help them to identify the item as goho-wood at a glance, it would be a great help.

(3) Issues in securing credibility• To enhance and maintain credibility of the system, it is necessary to increase the level ofmonitoring of authorized member companies by respective authorizing bodies.

22Summary of the Report for the International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 (Part 1)(Wood suppliers’ side)

Name
Title
Organization nameSusumu Kawakita
Executive Director
Japan Plywood Manufacturers’ Association (JPMA)I Brief introduction of the organization
1)Establishment
July 1965 (A nationwide federation of commercial and industrial associations based on the SmallEnterprises Law)
2) Purpose of the association
To implement projects on R&D for production technologies, expanding demand, information gatheringand provisions related to plywood, in order to develop Japan’s plywood industry, as well as to stabilize
and streamline management of the association through cooperatives and partners of the cooperatives.
3) Organization of the association
The association consists of four plywood industry cooperatives in four areas of Japan (Tohoku, Tokyo,
central Japan, and western Japan). Partners of cooperatives are 35 factories from 31 enterprises, andproduce plywood that accounts for approximately 90% of Japan’s total domestic plywood production(approx. 2,500,000 m3). (As of July 2012)
4) Major activities
Create statistics regarding plywood, encourage the spread of domestic plywood, develop new products,
and implement environmental measures, such as measures against illegal logging.

II Outline and dissemination of “goho (legal)-wood” activities
1) The “ Self-disciplinary Code of Conduct on Measures against Illegal Logging” and “Procedure to Authorize
Member Companies Related to the Verification of Legality of Wood and Wood Products” were establishedin March 2006 according to the Forest Agency’s guidelines.
2) Authorized companies (JPMA’s partners of cooperatives, etc.) as of August 1, 2012, total 36 factories from26 enterprises.
3) Shift in the supply of Goho-wood• Shift in input of logs for manufacturing plywood(Unit: thousand m3)
Input of logs (A)Year

No. of legally
verified logs (B)(Note) Enterprises affected by the Great(B)/(A)%

East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 havenot been included in the numerical values

FY 2007

4,808

1,706

35%

FY 2008

3,195

1,856

58%

FY 2009

2,834

2,079

73%

Plywood

FY 2010

3,426

2,568

75%

(JPMA)FY 2011

3,363

2,207

66%

for FY2010.

23(Source) Summary values of the Japan
Manufacturers’

Association

• Shift in the utilization of domestic wood in logs for manufacturing plywood(Unit: thousand m3)

Year

Input of logs
(A)

Input
domestic(B)of(Note)
logs (B)/(A)%The

FY 2000

5,401

138

3%

FY 2005

4,636

863

19%

FY 2010

3,811

2,490

65%

FY 2011

3,858

2,524

65%

numerical

valuesincludeenterprises outside the Japan Plywood
Manufacturers’ Association (JPMA).
(Source) Statistics by the Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

• Shift in output of domestically-produced plywood (table)(Unit: thousand m3)
Output of legality

Year

Output ofverified products(B)/(A)%production (A) (B)FY 2007

2,572

147

6%

FY 2008425

20%

FY 2009

2,079
2,092

472

23%

FY 2010

2,412

405

17%

FY 2011

2,264

414

18%

4) Dissemination activities
Display at Eco-products 2011 for legality verified domestic plywood, etc.

24III Activities to secure credibility
1) Public relations activities• The Self-disciplinary Code of Conduct, Procedure to Authorize Member Companies and names ofauthorized companies are posted on JPMA’s website.
2) Implementation of training, monitoring, etc.
• Training programs are held for executives of authorized companies and for persons in charge of theseparation of Goho-wood from other wood and the management of documents

Year

No. of trainees

FY 200750

FY 200837

FY 200934

FY 201028

FY 201146

Training venues
Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka

Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Shimane• Every year, monitoring of approximately three member companies is conducted, based on the Procedure to
Authorize Member Companies. Personnel from the head office of JPMA visit and interview persons incharge at the member companies and confirm the separation of Goho-wood from other wood andmanagement of document.

IV Evaluation from the demand side
1) With promotion of the construction of durable, long-lasting houses with excellent anti-earthquake andenergy-efficient features through the utilization of “Goho-wood,” etc. and implementation of the Act for
Promotion of the Use of Wood in Public Buildings, there is a growing interest in Goho-wood as designatedprocurement items based on the Law Concerning the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods andServices by the State and Other Entities.
2) Many prefectures have supported houses built using wood, and have established an approval system forexcellent quality wood. As one of the requirements for approval, more and more systems verify the legalityof wood and wood products in accordance with the Forest Agency’s guidelines.
3) With an increasing number of house builders and furniture makers becoming conscious ofenvironmentally-friendly eco-products, more companies now have procurement policies requiring wood
whose legality has been verified.
4) Against this backdrop, although goho-wood has attracted greater attention, only a few orders have been
made for legality-verified plywood (JPMA has provided guidance regarding the shipment of plywood withverified legality, regardless of the presence or absence of requests from users.)
25

V Problems to be solved
1) Requests for the government
To provide incentives for the use of Goho-wood (such as Goho-wood use points).
To create a mechanism to promote Goho-wood by labeling Goho-wood and wood products with acommon mark.
2) Requests for log suppliers including importers, etc.
To promote the supply of legality verified logs regardless of whether those logs are imported or produced
in Japan.
3) Issues in securing credibility
Research on an appropriate and effective method to separate Goho-wood from other wood andsystematization of documents by a third-party agent for office procedures.

26

Summary of theReportReportfor thefor theInternational
International
SeminarSeminaron Goho-Woodon Goho-Wood
2012
2012
(Part(Part1) 1)(Wood suppliers' side)

Name

Yasuhiro Ohashi

Title

Executive Director

Organization name

Japan Lumber Importers’ Association (JLIA)

1. Brief introduction of the organization







Established: April 1950, 63 years since its establishment. Voluntary membership association.
Purpose of establishment: To contribute toward the healthy development of the industry byconducting business necessary to promote the import of timber through mutual close
cooperation among import companies.
Scope of business: Collection and analysis of statistics on timber imports and theirdemand/supply; information/opinion exchanges with domestic and overseas timber industry
associations; and opinion proposals to government and industry.
Membership: 54 general trading houses, timber-specific trading companies, timber wholesalers,
wood processors, etc. Among these, 40 members conduct timber import every month. Total
import volume by member companies is almost 10 million m3 (FY2011). This accounts foralmost 60% of imported wood or wood products to Japan (including logs, sawn timber ,laminated lumber , veneer, plywood, fiberboards, and particle boards).

2. Outline and dissemination of "Goho-wood" activities

2004–2005: Survey on documents related to the shipment of imported wood and its actual
distribution, and a report to the Forestry Agency.
2006: Established JLIA "Group authorization system" based on guidelines by the Forestry
Agency related to the governmental procurements.
2010: Submitted a request letter to overseas wood industry associations asking for extra supply
of Goho-wood (including CoC certified timber)
Most members conducting actual timber import are already registered as JLIA authorized
suppliers.



Most of JLIA members also obtained Forest and CoC certifications to conduct chain of
procurement, supply and guarantee of Goho-wood (refer to table below). Among those with
CoC certification, 29 members obtained FSC and 31 members obtained PEFC, with 25 members
obtaining both certifications. The quantity imported by JLIA members having CoC certificationaccounts for more than 90% of the total imported volume by all members.

27

Transitionof members obtaining CoC certification(Japan Lumber Importers' Association:
CoC認証取得者数の推移（日本木材輸入協会・会員合計）
Total members)
2006年
2006
and before

以前

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

4

11

14

19

25

28

29

(Currently 29 companies)

7

10

11

18

23

29

31

(Currently 31 companies)

FSC:
PEFC:



(現在 29社)(現在 31社)

Goho-wood trade records (Target period: April 2011 to March 2012. Based on the report frommembers) Of the total import quantity of wood and wood products of 9,883,000 m3, 4,881,000m3 (49%) was verified to be Goho-wood; of this, 1,383,000 m3 was delivered to the domestic
market as Goho-wood.
(Item)(Total imports)
3(Goho-wood imports)
3(Goho-wood supply)Log

2,807,000 m

1,686,000 m(60%)

754,000 m3

Sawn timber

3,163,000 m3

421,000 m3(13%)

149,000 m3

Plywood

2,585,000 m3

2,266, 000 m3 (88%)

273,000 m3

Others1,328,000 m3

508,000 m3 (38%)

Total:

9,883,000 m3

4,881,000 m3 (49%)

206,000 m3 ___1,383,000 m3

3. Activities to secure credibility
Providing regular training seminars:
At the time of first authorization and its renewal every 3 years, we will visit respective member
companies to conduct training seminars for responsible managers and persons in charge. In
addition, we intend to conduct additional trainings (2 times every 3 years) at the midterm of theauthorized period (3 years).



Conducting monitoring:
Monitoring is also conducted at the same time the above training seminars are held. We examine
member activities such as document filing conditions, description of management documents,
confirmation of procurement/supply results of Goho-wood, and examination of improvement
points.



To receive the trainings and monitoring, most of members have already obtained various
certifications including FSC-CoC, FSC-CW and PEFC-COC, and deeply understand theseparate custody management and document control. Accordingly, in the training seminar we
focus on enhancing understanding and active utilization of the certification method by utilizing
the “Group authorization system,” which Japan uses to supply and spread Goho-wood.

The names of responsible persons from JLIA authorized suppliers and their training history are28

posted on the website “Goho-wood Navi” and occasionally revised.


Visiting training seminars conductedso far:2007: 41 members 191 persons
2009: 43 members 168 persons
2010: 31 members 123 persons
2012: 38 members 108 persons

4. Evaluation from the demand sideSince many domestic processors dedicate themselves to supplying Goho-wood, they often
request Goho-wood certification on the imported logs for raw materials. Whereas, in most of theimported sawn timber for the distribution industry, the need for Goho-wood from wholesalers,
etc. has been relatively low.

In the recent two years, the need for Goho-wood has increased because homebuilders aresupporting the trend of environmentally conscious products, and Goho-wood certification is
mentioned in the wood utilization promotion policy. JLIA aims to actively prepare andvoluntarily supply Goho-wood regardless of distributor or consumer demands.

Along with these changes in the current situation, overseas suppliers are starting to actively
supply Goho-wood to Japan. Also, the number of overseas suppliers obtaining CoC certification
has increased over the past two years.



Although the distribution industry, or demand side, has less capability to obtain CoC
certification, the need for Goho-wood including CoC certification will likely increase in the
future. This is because CoC-certified timber supplied by overseas suppliers and importers (JLIA
member companies, etc.) can provide a chain of Goho-wood guarantee by using theassociation authorization system.

5. Problems to be solved

Although the situation is changing as noted above, the ratio of Goho-wood certification29

especially to imported softwood sawn timber is still low, remaining as a problem needing
improvement. The possible causes for this are: first, the verification method of a legality otherthan Forest or CoC certification has not been clarified in many countries; and second, timber
having the Forest or CoC certification is not actively supplied as an CoC certified timber.



Although overseas suppliers and importers (JLIA members, etc.) are registering CoC
certifications by paying grate costs, it is not too nice that many are not effectively utilized. We
are expecting early improvement of this situation, including establishment of an system that canverify the legality at overseas by some other means in addition to the Forest and CoC
certifications.

30Summary of the Report for the International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 (Part 1)(Wood supplier’s side)）

Name

Hideaki Kurihara

Title

Director of Technical Group Department

Organization nameKarimoku Furniture Inc.

１

Brief introduction of the organization(1) Overview of the International Development Association of the Furniture Industry of Japan, which
we are joining
The International Development Association of the Furniture Industry of Japan was established in
April 2010 by merging the former Japan Export Furniture Manufacturer’s Association establishedin May 1957 with the Federation of Japan Furniture Manufacturer's Association established in
February 1964.
Membership mainly consists of furniture manufacturers, distributors, designers, etc.
The main purpose is to contribute to the improvement of the cultural aspects of national life and toboost the trading sector by facilitating the globalization and development/promotion of thefurniture industry.
Currently consists of 51 regular member companies/organizations and 15 supporting member
companies, a total of 66 corporations/organizations.

(2) Introduction of Karimoku Furniture Inc.
In April 2010, Kariya Mokuzai Kogyo Co., Ltd (established in 1947) and Krimoku Furniture Inc.
(established in 1968) were merged to become Karimoku Furniture Inc., which functions as theheadquarters of the Karimoku Group.
Located in Aichi Prefecture, and engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of wooden
furniture. Annual turnover: 21 billion yen (business results in FY2011) 890 employees (as ofApril 2012)
The whole group consists of 5 manufacturing companies and 4 materials factories for the supply ofwood. The business department of the group operates a manufacturing and wholesale business with27 sales offices and 19 showrooms.

２

Outline of measures to utilize Goho-wood(1) Utilization of “parawood”
As one of the measures for promoting Goho-wood and reducing environmental problems, we31

established a materials factory in Malaysia in 1988 to produce furniture using “parawood” fromrubber tree plantations on a short cycle.
Though "parawood" which already tapped natural rubber, used to be left unused and mainly
disposed of by being burnt as waste, we were able to treat it with our technology, in order to utilize
it as a material for furniture, and develop, manufacture, and distribute the resulting parawood
furniture products.
(2) Activities as a Goho-wood supplierIn 2006, certificates for Goho-wood were made obligatory by revision of the Green Purchasing
Law, and since then, our company has begun to prepare or issue Goho-wood certificates for our
products,with authorization from the International Development Association of the Furniture
Industry of Japan. We conduct separate management of the company, prepare the certificate fromthe previous process, and issue our certificate for Goho-wood as a chain of guarantee to customers.
We treated a total of 4,697,607 ㎥ of Goho-wood in FY2011.
(MTCC2: 592,485 ㎥, RPP1: 276,101 ㎥, PEFC: 654,948 ㎥, FSC: 126,498 ㎥, and company
authorization: 47,575 ㎥)(3) Measures for forest certified wood
Last year, we obtained COC certification as part of the FSC/PEFC forest certification process, andin this fiscal year, we are releasing and promoting PEFC certificated products to ordinary users andcustomers at exhibitions etc.
At the IFFT (International Furniture Fair Tokyo) held the other day, we exhibited FSC certificatedproducts, though as part of a reference exhibition.
From now, we are intending to proceed with measures to promote Goho-wood to contribute to thedemand for forest certificated products as a company.

3

Background of the measures for promoting Goho-wood

Knowledge of Goho-wood has increased since 2006 when the measures for promoting unti- illegal
logging began, based on the domestic Green Purchasing Law.
Though the Green Purchasing Law applies to only public works and facilities, the response rate tothese measures seems to be increasing with high awareness among domestic materials manufacturers.
We consider that such national measures we are conducting for public works and facilities as an
ordinary company on a regular basis will lead to a succession of measures in the future for ordinary
consumers, and also lead to environmental conservation and observance of the law.
However, the degree of acceptance and recognition of Goho-wood in the Green Purchasing Law is, infact, still low among ordinary consumers.

32

４

Request to the supply side

Some supply side companies still do not or cannot obtain authorization for Goho-wood suppliers, sothat formal certification according to the domestic Green Purchasing Law cannot currently be provided
in some cases.
Also, in regard to imported wood materials from overseas, the measures taken in each countries aredifferent and sometimes complicated, Sometimes we cannot obtain certification for some woodmaterials we treat, especially from China, because the have a wider variety of tree types.
Unified measures, marks, and seals like that of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) may
be convenient.
Though we are promoting the domestic consumption of domestic wood such as Japanese cedar andcypress, we still greatly rely on imported wood from overseas, so it is expected that Goho-woodcertification measures will be expanded within Japan and overseas by establishing the circumstances
for facilitating the issuance of Goho-wood certification to imported wood.

Since we, on the demand side, producing the products, are also suppliers to ordinary consumers,
we are expected to prepare measures to ultimately ensure that all materials we treat is
Goho-wood.
In order to realize the situation above, it is required, in particular, to explore methods for
authorizing the materials and suppliers that find it difficult to obtain certification by elaborating
detailed confirmation steps and procedures.
Also for imported wood, since the measures are different from country to country, it is necessary
to apply simpler nationwide measures such as unified standards, certification methods,
standardized certificates, marks, and seals to the imported wood to cope with illegally loggedwood.
It is important and necessary to provide details of measures in each importing/exporting country,
since the knowledge of the measures being applied in the countries exporting wood to Japan are
indispensable for us.
If possible, it is desirable to create a system to issue Goho-wood certification using a simpler way
without requiring a special certificate.

5 Challenges and problems to be solved
As already mentioned above, it is necessary to work with the companies concerned to establish
measures so that all materials are Goho-wood.
33

As for our own efforts, we will implement measures to respond to demand from the national
government, customers, and ordinary consumers by carefully examining and checking the woodmaterials whether they are applicable to Goho-wood.
By establishing COC certificated products under the forest certification process, we will also makeefforts to promote Goho-wood and its certification system while focusing on COC certificatedproducts.

34

Summary of the Report for the International Seminar on Goho-Wood 2012 (Part 1)(Wood suppliers' side)

Name

Koichi Sato

Title

Secretariat

Organization name

Ibaraki Morikaraie-Housing Network

1.Brief introduction of the organization
Establishment: March 1, 2012
Purpose of the association: (1) To provide regional housing trusted by consumers; (2) To conserve theregional forest and dwelling environment; (3) To ensure the proliferation of excellent
long-lasting houses and to enhance construction techniques; (4) To develop successors of theorganization according to the abovementioned purposes; and (5) To establish wood
circulation systems from upstream to downstream.
Number of members: 126 companies
Log market: 3 companies, sawmillers: 15 companies, precut factories: 5 companies,
distribution: 33 companies, design: 10 companies, construction: 79 companies. (Total does
not match because one company operates in multiple fields.)
Major activities: Holds various kinds of training seminars and workshops (for members). Provides
housing information to consumers via a website.

2. Outline of measures for the utilization of Goho-wood
Delivery of the wood to "Ibaraki wood using campaign" (An activity conducted by Ibamoku Co., Ltd,
which is the administrative body of the network).
Perzentation of pillars to customer: A system to donate pillar wood worth a maximum of 200,000 yen
to houses constructed by the traditional wooden method in Ibaraki Prefecture (asystem unique to Ibaraki Prefecture). Granted to 450 houses in FY2012(including 150 houses for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake).
Examples of grant conditions: Delivered by a company authorized as a
"Goho-wood Supplier" located in Ibaraki Prefecture. Amount of Goho-woodutilized in the structure should be 50% or more, etc.
Delivery of wood to public property: To deliver "wood produced in Ibaraki Prefecture" (Goho-wood)
to public property (elementary and junior high schools, etc.) constructed in
Ibaraki Prefecture based on the "Law regarding Promotion of Wood Utilizationin Public Buildings, etc."35

3. Background of measures for the utilization of Goho-wood
Adopted for the FY2012 Subsidy Programs of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism, "Regional Residence Branding Program" (First period)

Conditions for the adoption of the "Regional Branding Program" (First period)(1) Volume of Goho-wood
By utilizing the Goho-wood certification system, this association set the following criteria: the use of
Goho-wood for at least 90% of the structure materials

In addition to this, this association added theobligatory provision for setting a quantity of Goho-wood used for secondary structure materials(Total number of "tsubo" for the building *0.05 ㎥/ number of "tsubo", or more)
We established a system to supply Goho-wood to houses provided by member builders, by requiring
all types of wood-treating businesses (log market, sawmills, precut factories, distributors) to bemember companies of the Goho-wood certification system.

(2)Utilization of "Kizukai CO2 fixation certification system" conducted by the Japan Wood YouthGroup Association.
The total volume of delivered Goho-wood (the structure materials and secondary structure materialsonly) to each house for the subsidy is calculated according to the rule of the CO2 fixation certification
system, and the calculated results will be evaluated by a third party.
We demonstrate our environmental protection efforts to the building owners and customers byexpressing numerically the "quantity of CO2 fixed" by the relevant house.

(3)Utilization of CASBEE house - newly built (B+ or more)
CASBEE, sponsored by the Institute for Building Environment and Energy Conservation (IBEC), is asystem to “comprehensively evaluate the quality of buildings including the comfortableness of therooms and concern for the landscape by assessing and rating the buildings in terms of environmental
performance," which cannot normally be assessed with excellent long-lasing houses.
The objective of our house building is clearly shown to the building owners and consumers by using
the numerical figures obtained by rating (calculating) the "environmental performance" of the house.

In addition to these, there are many other conditions.

36

4. Requests on the supplier's side
Though the use of Goho-wood of this association was limited to the "structure materials and secondary
structure materials" in this adopted program, we are aiming to limit all deliverable wood including
wood fixtures and interior/exterior furnishing wood to Goho-wood in the future.
To realize this aim:
Regarding domestic wood: establish a system to show the log producing district on sawn wood (in thecase of the log market in Ibaraki Prefecture), because logs having different producing districts are
mixed for sale after being classified into grades in order to lower the cost when being sold at the log
market (a log distribution center where loggers auction wood to sawmillers).
Regarding imported wood: establish a system to simply retrieve Goho-wood authorization
information, such as SGEC, FSC, PEFC and CoC forest certification, at the time consumers anddesigners select the imported wood.

5.

Challenges and problems to be solved

To improve the organization of this Housing Network so as to contribute to the regional housing
industry by accumulating our experience and achievements in the future, because it has not been longsince the association was established.

To become an "information center of residential construction" by positively informing the objective of
our association to consumers (especially the citizens of Ibaraki Prefecture).

To improve our knowledge, technical ability, and ability to cope with various conditions and futurenational measures (Energy Saving Act, low carbon houses, etc.) by making efforts to become atrustworthy organization chosen by the owners (consumers).

37

38

Part2

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Comment Sheet (revised)Name

Luo xinjian

Title

Associate Researcher

Organization

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Country

China

Outline of the Organization
Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) was founded in 1958 based on the former Central ResearchInstitute of Forestry established in 1953.The academy now has 4,476 staff workers, The academy isactive in academic exchanges and has established cooperative relation with more than 20 national andinternational organizations.

Basic Policies of the organization on illegal logging issues and its activities
Chinese commitment to international initiatives to combat illegal logging and associated trade

EU-China Bilateral Coordination Mechanism on Forest Law Enforcement andGovernanceSigned in 2009, start implementing in 2010,EU-China BCM on FLEG is a forum for:-policy dialogue-information exchange-consideration of possible shared approach in combating illegal logging and associated trade
Timber Legality Verification Schemes
A research program of Chinese Academy of Forestry in collaboration with ProForest running from
October 2009 -July 2011, co-funded by UK DFID, DEFRA and SFA.
Aim: to provide detailed proposals to the Chinese Government on the establishment of a practicaltimber legality verification scheme.
Key activities:
Analysis of market requirements for legal timber and timber productsComparative study on existing timber legality verification schemes
Draft recommendations on timber legality verification schemes
Pilot testing using the draft legality verification schemes
Stakeholder consultation
Development of policy recommendations
41

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Green Public Procurement of Timber
In October 2006, the Ministry of Finance and State Environmental Protection Agency (now Ministryof Environmental Protection) jointly released a “Public Procurement List of Environmental Label
Products”

Currently 24 product types, include wood-based panel, wooden flooring and furniture
Are recognized to be included in a legality framework for domestic sources and sustainability forimported sources.

Dynamics in the Private Sector
Chain of Custody certificate holder: FSC 1393, PEFC 102, CFCC (piloting, expecting 20 in 2010)
GFTN China: 27 members; 7,993,732 m3
WWF China Green Wood Initiatives
TFT/TTAP: various supply chains identified by EU buyers; one international supply chain obtained
third party verification
China National Forest Products Industry Association (CNFPIA) “Code of Conduct” –Guide to Due
Diligence on Wood Origin and Legality

FPI network
This year under the support of Chinese State Forestry Administration, a network which involved
Government, Associations, enterprises and research institute named Forest Products Index Mechanism(FPI) was launched. One of its main activities is to haveperiodic dialogs between government

agencies and timber enterprises, associations and research institutes. At present, the main topic underdiscussion is the issue of verifying the legal timber trading system and related training for enterprises.

Topics1 General Evaluation of Japan’s Action for illegal logging issue
The Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations has made considerable efforts topush forward

the legal timber verification system in Japan. If there was information on the operationalization ofthis system for domestic as well as imported timber and how much wood is traded under the systemcompared to the total volume of wood traded in japan then a good assessment of the system would bepossible. In particular it would be very informative to learn how the system deals with imported wood42

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

products.
Since it is a new and complicated system, it will take time for people of all levels to understand andsupport the system. The Chinese Forestry Industry Association is now trying to push forward a
Chinese Legal timber verification system., I believe there are some experiences that Japan Federationof Wood Industry Assoc. can share with Chinese Forestry Industry Association
It is important for all countries introducing procurement policies to inform supply countries and tonegotiate with them on timing of implementing any new regulations and to also provide technical andmaterial assistance to all supply countries on how to establish a TLAS.
It will take several years for supply countries to be ready.
For example the FLEGT which has taken many years to get ready and still countries are not readyeven with help from the EU.

Topics2 Possibility of Activities of Industry Associations for illegal logging issue inthe context of Goho-wood
The Chinese forestry industry associations are trying to agree a timber legality verification system forpiloting in November this year.
The problem is a timber legality verification system will increase the costs of the timber processing
enterprises. This will be a particular burden for the small and medium sized forestry enterprises. As
such the success of a timber legality verification system needs government, associations andenterprise to cooperate with each other in a way that has not been achieved in the past.
Especially at the early stages of implementation the government and associations need to provide
more assistance to enterprises.

43International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

44

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Comment Sheet
Name
Agus Sarsito
Title

Head

Organization

Center of Forestry Development Coordinator for Sumatera Region,
Ministry of Forestry

Country

Indonesia

Outline of the Organization
Brief history, Center of Forestry Development Coordinator for Sumatera Region was established tocoordinate forestry development in Sumatera Region involving many Directorate General within
Minstry of Forestry as well as Povincial and Distric Government.
Member ship, Mnistry of Forestry is a member of among other FAO, ITTO
Objectives, The objective of the Center is to sinergy available resources for optimum support toforestry developement is Sumatera Region.
Main Activities: (1) To Coordinate forestry planning for Sumatera region; (2) Supervise
implementation of Management Unit in Sumatera Region; (3) Fasilitate conflict resolution.

Basic Policies of the organization on illegal logging issues and its activities
As Forest resources are the most prominant asset for sustainable development, sustainable forest
resources is the most important. One of the major threat to Indonesia’s forest is illegal logging and
its associated trade. Therefore, combating illegal logging and its associated trade has became
strategic policies since early 2000. In combating illegal logging, Indonesia have taken two approaches.
The first approach is by law enforcement and the second is by soft approach, developing Indonesia
Timber Legality Assurance System (Indo-TLAS) or Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK).
SVLK is complement to law enforcement, because the law enfrocement alone can not solve illegal
logging problem.

45

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Topics1 General Evaluation of Japan’s Action for illegal logging issue
As Indonesia highly committed to combat illegal logging and its associated trade, any effort addresing
illegal logging, including Japanese effort as one of Indonesian timber and timber products major
consumer, will increase the effectiveness of the effort. It is the right time for importing countries,
including Japan, to demonstrate its committment in combating illegal logging and its associated trade,
not limited to domestic but also global scale. Goho-wood, could be linked to SVLK to accomodate
demand on imported timber/timber product of Japanese market.

Topics2 Possibility of Activities of Industry Associations for illegal logging issue inthe context of Goho-wood
Industry is part of value chain of timber products. Therefore participation of industry assosiation in
addressing illegal logging is very important. Possible activities for industry associations related tocombating illegal logging in the context of GoHo-Wood, is to esablish close communication andcooperation to support promoting legal timber in the market.

46

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Comment Sheet
Name
TING Yien Ding, Annie
Title

Senior Manager

Organization

Sarawak Timber Association

Country

Malaysia

Outline of the Organization
The Sarawak Timber Association (STA) is a trade association formed on 7 August 1971 by 3 founding
timber associations. STA represents about 500 member companies which are involved in the
upstream and downstream activities of the timber industry and its subsequent trade. Some are
multinational companies dealing with forestry industry and timber trade, including forest plantations.
STA member companies deal with logs and timber products which include sawntimber, plywood,
mouldings/dowels, furniture, furniture parts, laminated boards and other panel products. Among theobjectives of STA are (1) to promote, foster and enhance the relations between all members of the
Association; (2) to promote and uphold as prudently as possible the interests and well being of all
members of the Association; (3) to promote, ascertain and protect the continuous well being of thetimber trade and industry in the State of Sarawak and so on.

Basic Policies of the organization on illegal logging issues and its activities
STA supports and promotes the practice of sustainable forest management and the trade of legal
timber.

Logs in Sarawak have been verified by the relevant authorities as those harvested by licensed

person(s) from approved area(s) and in accordance with the laws, regulations and procedures
pertaining to forestry and trade in the State of Sarawak and/or Malaysia, whichever applies.

Topics1 General Evaluation of Japan’s Action for illegal logging issue
Sarawak Timber Association (STA) applauds Japan’s efforts in taking necessary actions/measures toaddress illegal logging internationally as well as domestically especially over the last 6 years.

Thisseminar is one of the Japan’s efforts where relevant stakeholders from all over the world are invited
together in one forum to share experiences with each other, with the aim of eliminating illegal logging
globally.

Illegal logging is a very complex issue, and it cannot be done alone. This issue has beenfurther complicated and challenged by the ever evolving definition of legality and sustainability bydifferent international orgnisations as well as Non-Governmental Groups. It is important to understandthe difference between legal and certified timber. Also, STA recognizes that there is an urgent need to47

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

reach international consensus on the definition of legality and sustainability and verification method
which can be adopted by all stakeholders. All stakeholders in this context are not only confined to thegovernment and industry but also the NGOs and the interest parties, and all are required to play theirpart and as well as to take effective actions for mutual benefit of all stakeholders.

Topics2 Possibility of Activities of Industry Associations for illegal logging issue inthe context of Goho-wood
STA continues to work closely with the relevant forestry authorities of Sarawak to ensure the supplyof logs and timber products are legal, based on the system provided in the Legality Verification of log
in Sarawak (LVLS). With this assurance of supply of legal timber we aim to sustain our forests, whichis in line with the objectives of Goho-wood. STA strongly believes that to tackle illegal logging
effectively requires firm action and commitment from both timber producing and consuming
countries. STA and Industry Associations in Japan can work together to publicise these requirements
and systems in their own countries.

48

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Comment Sheet
Name
André de Boer
Title

Secretary General

Organization

European Timber Trade Federation

Country

The Netherlands

Outline of the Organization
The ETTF was founded in the early sixties. It organizes 11 national timber trade federations.
Objectives, defend interest of members
Main Activities, lobby, advice
The aim of the ETTF is a.o.:-to represent the interest of the timber trade in their dealings with the EU as well as other institutions
and organizations both inside and outside the EU,-to engage such issues whether professional, economic, ecological or fiscal likely to promote and tofavor the consumption of timber.
The mission of the ETTF is a.o.:-to make timber the sustainable choice-to support international efforts to adress deforestation, governance and climate change-to implement codes of conducts

Basic Policies of the organization on illegal logging issues and its activities-

ETTF has a code of conduct obliging its members not te be involved in illegal activities-

At the moment mainly preparing for upcoming EUTR (effective from 3 March 2013)

Topics1 General Evaluation of Japan’s Action for illegal logging issue
ETTF Receives very positive the Japanese scheme which encourages maximized number of companies
to participate the effort to ensure the timber legality.
-

Creates level playing field which doesn’t differentiate in- and out side of the border.

-

Prevents diversion of timber flows which possibly mitigate the risk of trading the illegal
timber.

49

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Topics2 Possibility of Activities of Industry Associations for illegal logging issue inthe context of Goho-wood
ETTF supported the implementation of the EUTR, including the prohibition to place illegally produced
timber on the market.
ETTF is supportive toward FLEGT and the closing of VPA's.
The members of ETTF are bound by a code of conduct. This code of conduct aims at banning all illegal
activities.
Within the frame of the EUTR the ETTF has developed due diligence procedures.
Recently the ETTF launched the International Timber Trade Forum. This ITTF aims at liaisingproducers- and importers federations in order to exchange information on a.o. initiatives directed atbanning illegal production.
At the same time members of the ITTF try to see to it that rules and regulations with regards to illegality
such as EUTR, Lacey act and the Australian bill are based on the same principles.
ETTF promotes the use of if not sustainably the at least legally produced timber in public procurement.

50International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Comment Sheet
NameJameson S French
Organization

President and CEO – Northland Forest Products,
Past Chairman, The Hardwood Federation

Country

USA

Title

Outline of the Organization The Hardwood Federation
Brief history: Started in 2003 – Largest Washington DC based hardwood tradeassociation
Member ship: An umbrella organization consisting of 22 trade associations, representing
over 10,000 companies. Range from plywood, flooring, veneer to solid hardwood.
Objectives, activities： Promotes and represents the common business interests of ourmembership to Members of Congress, administration officials and others inWashington DC.
Basic Policies of the organization on illegal logging issues and its activities
Leading industry group in support of Lacey Act amendment of 2008. Believes Lacey Act
not only helps protect the worlds forest but it offers a fair and level playing field for US
workers and companies directly impacted by the flow of illegally harvested wood andproducts made from that wood into the USA.
Topics1 General Evaluation of Japan’s Action for illegal logging issue
At time (2001) Japan’s law was progressive and a head of the rest of the world, but now
its voluntary basis is not strong enough.
Important to establish a law that prohibit the importation of illegal wood. None of thecurrent voluntary systems are strong enough.
Japan is a very important wood market and a world leader on these issues, Its time forJapan to join the USA, Europe and Australia with strong legislation to stop the flow ofillegal wood products.

International Seminar on Goho-wood 2012,
Part II The Significance and Challenges of the Japanese Timber Legality Verification System from anInternational Perspective

Topics2 Possibility of Activities of Industry Associations for illegal logging issue inthe context of Goho-wood
Very important to work together with responsible environmental groups (ENGO’s) as
well as other partners (labor, consumer groups etc.) to create a broad coalition to support
the changes.

Reference