Forest Sector Operators
To obtain a Timber, Sawmill, Firewood, Charcoal, Sawpit or Timber Path Dealer License, Timber Depot Dealer License or Timber Grading License the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) requires the following, which will remain necessary to confirm legal compliance:
General:
- Proof of ownership or occupation of the property on which the business/operations would be conducted
- Certificate of business or company registration or ID reference
- Police clearance
- List and registration of equipment to be used in the operation
- Names of current employees
- Timber Dealers and Sawmillers:
- Relevant consent/approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for operating such a business at the prescribed location
- Relevant consent/approval of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for operating such a business at the prescribed location(s).
- Sawmill and lumber yard operators:
- All returns (Sawmill Returns, Lumberyard Returns, Wood Products Sales and Wood Products Supply).
In addition, FSOs are required to submit the following verifiers of legal compliance:
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) – Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)
- Value-Added (VAT) Certificate – Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)
- Compliance Certificate – National Insurance Board
- Wood Tracking System (WTS) Verification Report – GFC
- Inspection Reports – GFC
- Environmental Permit – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Also, to meet the necessary conditions for exports, legally verified timber products exported from Guyana are controlled by the following official documents:
- FLEGT Licence and Export Certificate for the EU market
- Export Certificate only for non-EU markets
- Customs Declaration Form C72
- Commercial Invoice
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- CITES Permit (if applicable)
- CARICOM Certificate of Origin (required for export to only CARICOM countries)
Each FSO has different requirements or steps for acquiring a FLEGT Licence and, therefore, should view the the legal compliance verifiers specific to your FSO status.
Compliance Verifiers
Verifiers prove that FSOs have met the legal requirements of Guyana. An FSO’s compliance with each indicator, as shown below, shows compliance with the LD. Verifiers are associated with every indicator.
The responsible agencies in the matrices below are Government ministries and agencies that will undertake the verification of FSO’s compliance with the indicators of the LD.
There are two kinds of verifiers:
- Government ministries and agencies issue some verifiers following their internal procedures and internal checks for their issuance.
- Government ministries and agencies issue other verifiers as part of their mandate through regular inspections of FSOs’ operations. Compliance is assessed through the review and the examination of reports.
A. State Forest Authorizations (Large Concessions)
B. State Forest Authorizations (Small Concessions)
C. Amerindian Villages
D. Private Lands
E. Salvaged Timber Products State Lands in Conversion
F. Seized Timber Products
G. Processing and Sale of Timber Products
H. Export and Import Of Timber Products
