Mr.Nguyen Ton Quyen, Deputy Chairman, Secretary General Association of Timber and Forest Products Vietnam said in recent years, exports of wood and wood products of Vietnam have grown rapidly (from 570 million in 2003 to $ 2.4 billion in 2007 and $ 2.8 billion in 2008). In 2009, although heavily influenced by the global economic downturn, but exports of the country has reached nearly $ 2.7 billion. This figure of 6 months of 2010 reached $ 1.5 billion and is expected to total export turnover in 2010 reached about $ 3 billion. Wooden currently ranks fifth among the exports of the country and Vietnam are among the 15 largest timber exporter in the world.

However, Vietnam's wood industry still depends heavily on imported raw materials (70%, equivalent to $ 1 billion per year). This makes the processing industry and Vietnam's wood exports are facing a number of risks. Specifically, the Lacey Act of Congress prohibited trafficking in plants and related products of illegal origin, including wood and wood products (in 2008, Congress amended the Lacey Act to prohibit trade in plants and related products of illegal origin, including wood and wood products). Lacey Act officially comes into force on 1/4/2010. Accordingly, the import of timber and timber products into the U.S. needs to declare the origin, place names, country names where logging and tree species in the composition of products and wooden furniture. This Act also apply penalties for violations, including the confiscation of goods and transport vehicles, fines, or even imprisonment of the persons concerned.

In respect of enterprises, Mr.Le Dang Giao, deputy director of Hoa Binh Co., Ltd (professional exporter of wood products), said to perform the terms of the Lacey Act for export to the U.S. market, The company has been buying wood, ask the vendor to make available evidence of lawful origin. "However, the company is also difficult, because in previous years, America may require certification of wood from certified forests and old suppliers were hardly prepared the papers to prove the source timber" Mr. Giao said, and Hoa Binh to find new suppliers meet the above requirements. This also affected the main part of the company to profitability, because when you buy wood raw material certification, price 10-15% higher than the price of timber has no such certificate.

So, companies must do to comply with the Lacey Act? Jogn Magnus (Miller & Chevalier Company - USA), first, enterprises should understand the provisions of the declaration of origin. Second, enterprises should plan to comply with the Lacey Act. That is, when asked what the Act, the companies need to have specific plans, need to understand the business products related to how the Act. Third, companies must develop a "process" for risk management relating to the Act. Fourth, the business must have regular training programs for employees in the company, so they understand the requirements of the Act.

The experts said that companies need to comply with the Lacey Act for integration, however, businesses need to calm down, because since the Act to this effect, not exporters of wood products in Vietnam returned goods. "The problem is, companies implement the Lacey Act for how well, for the good implementation of the provisions of the Act will help the export turnover of Vietnam's furniture to the U.S. market growing steadily, striving to improve High market share in the future, "he stressed Rights.

(Thanh Vũ - Baodautu.vn - Google Translate - http://baodautu.vn/portal/public/vir/baivietthuongmai/repository/collaboration/sites%20content/live/vir/web%20contents/chude/thuongmai/xuatnhapkhauhoinhap/7cbfb2167f00000101e407778312277f )