Ecobiz.asia – Indonesia has urged the European Union to strengthen recognition of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences under the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to help safeguard market access for Indonesian forest products in Europe.
The issue was discussed at the 11th Indonesia-EU Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) meeting in Jakarta on Friday (Aug. 14, 2026), as both sides reviewed the implementation of their forest governance and trade cooperation.
Director General of Sustainable Forest Management at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry Laksmi Wijayanti said continued dialogue and a shared understanding with the EU are important as market regulations evolve, particularly with the implementation of the EUDR.
“Through the JIC, we hope to strengthen technical communication and cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union so that trade and sustainability policies can be implemented in alignment while continuing to benefit businesses, communities and forest managers in Indonesia,” Laksmi said.
Indonesia has continued to strengthen sustainable, transparent and accountable forest management through its Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK) and the FLEGT licensing scheme. The two systems are designed to ensure the legality and traceability of Indonesian forest products while providing greater certainty for international markets.
EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Denis Chaibi said FLEGT continues to have practical relevance under the EUDR framework. Timber products covered by a FLEGT licence, he said, have a specific position in meeting legality requirements.
Chaibi said Indonesia-EU cooperation should focus on delivering tangible benefits for Indonesian exporters, including greater recognition of FLEGT among European businesses and stronger integration of Indonesian forest products into global value chains.
The EUDR discussions at JIC-11 covered the definition of deforestation, the use of data and maps, and the relationship between SVLK and the EUDR’s due diligence requirements.
Indonesia also stressed the need for greater clarity on the role of FLEGT licensing in due diligence procedures, including for timber products sourced from different raw materials that have undergone SVLK verification.
The discussions form part of efforts to ensure that the legality and traceability framework established through the FLEGT-VPA continues to provide practical benefits for Indonesian forest product exports to the EU market.
JIC-11 also reviewed implementation of the Indonesia-EU Joint Action Plan 2024-2025, covering SVLK, Indonesian import regulations, timber legality requirements, due diligence and the use of V-Legal documents in forest product trade.
Indonesia and the EU also discussed the ATLAS project, funded by the European Union and implemented in cooperation with the International Trade Centre (ITC). The program aims, among other objectives, to strengthen the capacity of micro, small and medium-sized forestry businesses to meet trade and reporting requirements in the EU market.
On FLEGT-VPA implementation, Indonesia presented progress in e-licensing, SVLK strengthening and the integration of geolocation information. The two sides also discussed FLEGT licensing, including the use of QR codes on FLEGT licences and their connection with the EU’s TRACES system.
The meeting also reviewed findings from independent monitoring of forest governance and market analysis conducted under the Independent Market Monitoring (IMM) initiative by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). The analysis included opportunities to strengthen market incentives for FLEGT-licensed timber amid evolving EU sustainability regulations.
Through JIC-11, Indonesia and the EU reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, transparency and technical cooperation to support sustainable forest governance and trade in legal and responsibly sourced forest products.
The two sides will follow up the discussions through technical engagements, including preparations for a Joint Expert Meeting (JEM) and the next JIC meeting.
