In order to compliance with the requirements of the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) which will apply to operators and traders exporting and import products to the EU market from January 1st , 2025, the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) collaborated with the Vietnam Forest Certification Office (VFCO) to conduct training for 22 rubber companies under VRG. These training sessions were held in the Southeast region (from September 4-6, 2024) and the Central Highlands region (from September 9-11, 2024), with a total of 98 participants.
Based on PEFC forest certification standards, the PEFC ST 2002-1:2024 Module Standard – Requirements for the Implementation of PEFC EUDR Due Diligence System (PEFC EUDR DDS) has been issued to support organization to compliance with EUDR requirements. This module standard addresses three key requirements of the EUDR: (i) Materials and commodities in the production chain must not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020; (ii) Compliance with the laws of the producing country; and (iii) Establishment and operation of a Due Diligence System (DDS).
During the training, participants were guided and discussed the current state of information and data available within their companies, supplemented information need, developed and ungraded to PEFC EUDR DDS, ensuring proper documentation, evidence, reporting systems, and information transparency as required by EUDR. After the training, VFCO will continue to provide both online and on-site support to assist rubber companies in proactively meeting EUDR requirements.
With experience in implementing VFCS/PEFC certified over many years, VRG currently has over 120,000 hectares of forests certified for sustainable forest management (SFM), and there are 22 companies have been certified according to PEFC Chain of Custody (CoC) standard. This solid foundation allows VRG companies to supplement and complete their documentation to meet EUDR requirements before December 2024. This also demonstrates VRG’s determination and responsibility in fulfilling the EUDR requirements, enhancing its reputation, and contributing to sustainable development.
VFCO
