ANNEX XSupplementary provisions
ANNEX X PUBLISHED INFORMATION 1. Introduction In order to implement the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), amongst other things, information has to be available on the VPA and its objectives, implementation, monitoring and control. This information has to be published by the Joint Implementation Committee of the VPA and by each of the Parties, this being in order to guarantee a clear understanding of the FLEGT licensing scheme by all those involved and effective governance with respect to forestry management. 2. Relevant information published by the forestry authority and other parties The following information will be published: Legal information: — legality matrices, — forestry code and all implementing regulations (decrees and orders), — international conventions and agreements signed and ratified by Congo applying to the VPA (United Nations Declaration 61/295 on Indigenous Peoples, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, CITES, CBD, etc.), — wording of any other legislation or regulations applying to the VPA, as mentioned at the end of Annex II, — documents providing information on labour, employment and social security rights, — wording of the VPA itself, with all its annexes and subsequent amendments, — list of private systems for the certification of legality/sustainability that have been recognised and approved, — lists and maps of forestry concessions and protected areas. Information on the annual forestry production of Congo: — production by certificate of exploitation (CAT, CTI, PS and Plantation Timber Harvesting Permit), by species, by type of product and by operator, — annual report of the SCPFE: Exports in terms of volume and value by species, by type of product, by operator and by destination, — annual reports of the Departmental Forest Economy Offices, — harvesting licences granted, — quantities of timber and derived products imported into Congo or having passed through Congo *, — deforestation licence (deforestation for infrastructures and projects). Information on the process of granting certificates and the holders of permits: — orders calling for tenders, — minutes of the forestry committee meeting assigning forest areas, — signed agreements (CAT and CTI) that are currently valid, including the terms and conditions, — list and map of all forest concessions, — list of consents granted to natural persons and legal entities that are currently valid, — surface area and location maps for annual areas available for exploitation, — number of special permits granted, number of users, anticipated volume. Information on forest management: — list and map of managed concessions (with surface areas), — forestry potential of the Forestry Production Unit (FPU), — list and map of certified areas, — approved environmental impact studies. Information on processing: — processing companies, location, shareholders, capacity, volumes and stocks etc. Information on the monitoring of legality: — list of monitoring structures and assignments, — annual reports from all of the departments involved in monitoring (and in particular the IGEF, SCPFE, DGEF and DDEF), — procedures for granting legality certificates and FLEGT licences, — list of companies holding legality certificates. Information on forestry revenue: — forestry transactions, — forestry taxes (area, felling, export taxes etc.), payment of local and national taxes, — disputes and monitoring of disputes. Information on trade with the Union: — quantities of timber and derived products exported to the Union under the FLEGT licensing scheme according to the relevant HS code headings and according to the destination Member State of the Union *, — the number of FLEGT licences issued by Congo *. The following information is published by the Union: — quantities of timber and derived products imported into the Union under the FLEGT licensing scheme, according to the relevant HS headings and according to the Member State of the Union in which importation took place *, — number of FLEGT licences received by the Union *. Information on the prices of timber and derived products charged in the Union market will be regularly supplied to the Congolese party. 3. Information that will be published by the Joint Committee 3.1. Minutes of meetings of the Joint Committee and summaries of decisions 3.2. A joint report containing the following information in particular: (a) the measures taken by both Parties to prevent importation of timber and derived products of illegal origin in order to maintain the integrity of the FLEGT licensing scheme; (b) cases of non-compliance with the FLEGT licensing scheme in Congo and action taken in such cases; (c) number of cases and quantities of timber and derived products involved where Article 9(1) ( 1 ) has been applied; (d) action preventing the exportation of timber and derived products of illegal origin to non-EU markets or sale thereof on the national market; (e) progress made in achieving the objectives and carrying out the activities of the VPA within a deadline specified and all matters relating to implementation of the VPA; (f) Structure and functioning of the Joint Committee; (g) And certain details published by either party and mentioned under 2 in this annex ( 2 ) . 3.3. Terms of reference, inspection and audit reports by the independent auditor 4. Means of accessing information The information mentioned above will be available: — on the MEF website, — at the technical office of the Congolese party responsible for monitoring the VPA, — in annual reports drawn up by the Forestry Authority, available at the ministry and departmental offices, — in the national and international written press. Under the communication plan, public information meetings will also be held and will be an opportunity to pass this information on to participants, particularly to those on the ground and communities that do not have Internet access. ( 1 ) Article 9(1) Link with the body of the text (refers to cases where timber has arrived at a Union customs office without a licence). ( 2 ) These details are identified by an asterisk *.