Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System
The verification of compliance with the Legality Definition (LD) applies to all Forest Sector Operators (FSOs) of Guyana. Verifiers listed in the LD are used to verify legal compliance with the corresponding indicators.
Along with the GFC, Government agencies such as EPA, NIS and GRA, among others, will be verifying that FSOs meet legality.
Verification will be done by checking that all the requirements of the VPA and supply chain controls are met to ensure that timber products are legal. Evidence of compliance will be gathered from physical checks, documentation, and information and/or data systematically collected and verified at different steps along the supply chain.
The Licensing Authority or FLEGT Secretariat will have procedures for documenting and archiving evidence to assess the legality of a shipment before issuing a FLEGT licence. Roles and responsibilities for all groups involved in verification will also clearly defined and documented.
Once the FLEGT licensing scheme goes live, an independent auditor will regularly check and report on implementation, including the effectiveness and potential shortcomings of verification.
