The Ministry of Forestry also regulates the Licence Information Unit (LIU) as an information management unit which validates information concerning V-Legal Document/FLEGT licence issuance. The LIU is also responsible for general information exchange on the TLAS, and receives and stores relevant data and information on the issuance of certificates of legality and V-Legal Documents/FLEGT licences. It also responds to queries from competent authorities of trading partners and stakeholders. The LIU also manages the due diligence based import recommendation process through its SILK online system.
In addition, the Ministry of Forestry controls the registration of technical governmental field supervisors (Wasganis) and technical company field staff (Ganis). Wasganis are tasked to carry out the supervision and control of log measurements. They also terminate the mandatory transport documents and carry out data reconciliation (for further details refer to the Appendix of this Annex). Ganis prepare the production and transport documents from all production in state forests. Ganis can also terminate the mandatory transport documents in the case of Wasganis' absence for more than 48 hours. Both Wasganis and Ganis are registered with the Ministry of Forestry. On a yearly basis, they are evaluated by the Ministry of Forestry through an official examination.
5.
Legality Verification
5.1. Introduction
Indonesian timber is deemed legal when its origin and production process as well as subsequent processing, transport and trade activities are verified as meeting all applicable Indonesian laws and regulations, as set out in Annex II. CABs carry out conformity assessments to verify compliance. To reduce the burden on private forest owners, as well as traders and household industries/craftsmen/artisans fully depending on timber from privately owned/privately utilized forests (private land permit), such operators are allowed in clearly described cases to issue a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity as an alternative to obtaining an SVLK certification (see paragraph 5.2 below for more detail).
5.2. Legality verification process by CABs
In accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 and the TLAS Guidelines, the legality verification process consists of the following:
Application and contracting: The operator submits to the CAB an application that defines the scope of verification, operator's profile and other necessary information. A contract between the operator and the CAB, setting out the conditions for verification, is required prior to the commencement of the verification activities.
Verification plan: After the signing of the verification contract, the CAB prepares a verification plan, which includes nomination of the audit team, verification programme and schedule of activities. The plan is communicated to the auditee, to the relevant Provincial Forestry Authority and other relevant authorities at provincial and regional levels, and the dates of verification activities are agreed upon. This information shall be made available in advance for the independent monitors and to the public through the websites of the CABs and the Ministry of Forestry, and/or mass media or letters.