On November 11, the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) held the kick-off workshop for the project “Promoting Compliance with the Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) in the Rubber Sector.”
The event brought together more than 60 delegates from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST), government agencies, civil society organizations, and rubber wood processing enterprises.
Enhancing Compliance Capacity for Smallholders and Processors
Mr. Tran Ngoc Thuan, Chairman of VRA and the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), emphasized that this project — supported by FAO and VNFOREST — aims to help smallholders and enterprises in Vietnam’s rubber sector strengthen their capacity to meet the requirements of the VNTLAS in small-scale supply chains.
The project, implemented from July 2020 to July 2021, is being piloted in Binh Duong and Tay Ninh provinces. Its main objectives include:
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Assessing compliance capacity among smallholder suppliers of rubber wood in Vietnam’s timber supply chain;
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Developing a standard legal timber dossier for the rubber sector;
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Conducting consultations and technical workshops with relevant stakeholders to finalize the dossier;
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Producing a VNTLAS handbook for smallholder rubber wood producers.
Promoting Legal Timber Trade and Sustainable Forest Management
During the workshop, experts presented key information about the Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), its significance for the rubber sector, and shared lessons from practical implementation.
The project seeks to enhance legal timber trade, contributing to sustainable forest management while improving the capacity of smallholders — who account for over 51% of Vietnam’s total rubber area (479,600 ha out of 941,300 ha nationwide as of 2019).
In 2019, Vietnam’s rubber wood exports — including raw materials and finished products — reached USD 2.38 billion, contributing 22.4% of the total export value of the country’s wood industry. Of this, rubber wood products accounted for USD 1.83 billion (76.9%), while rubber wood materials made up USD 551 million (23.1%).
These figures highlight the significant role of rubber wood in both domestic and global markets, and underscore the importance of ensuring legality and sustainability in its supply chain.
Capacity Building and International Integration
The project also focuses on strengthening VRA’s capacity to support stakeholders in meeting VNTLAS criteria and aligning with commitments under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA/FLEGT) between Vietnam and the European Union (EU).
Activities include:
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Conducting research on the impact of VNTLAS implementation at different levels across Vietnam;
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Developing information materials and publications to communicate progress domestically and internationally;
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Engaging experienced rubber and forestry experts to ensure project effectiveness and knowledge sharing.
By promoting legal compliance, transparency, and sustainable sourcing, this initiative helps Vietnam’s rubber sector enhance its reputation and competitiveness in global wood markets — while contributing to the country’s broader sustainable forest management goals.