Department of Foreign Trade Bans Export of Siamese Rosewood and Its Products, Effective August 16, 2023
August, 31 2023
Ronnarong Poolpipat, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, has announced two new Ministry of Commerce notifications regarding the import and export of timber and wood products. These updates introduce minor adjustments to previous regulations to align with current timber trade conditions while reducing complexity and procedural burdens for importers and exporters.
One of the new notifications concerns the export of timber and wood products and will come into effect on August 16, 2023. The key provisions include:
- prohibition on the export of Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) and its products under all circumstances
- requirement for permits to export certain logs, sawn timber, and specific transplanted trees
- requirement for export certification for wooden handicrafts and charcoal
"Exporters must comply with the Ministry of Commerce’s regulations on exporting logs, sawn timber, and specific transplanted trees. The Minister of Commerce has signed the notification, and it is currently in the process of being published in the Royal Gazette. Exporters can apply for an export license at the Royal Forest Department as the sole authority. Required documents include an invoice, photographs of the goods, and proof of the timber’s legal origin."
Additionally, the Department of Foreign Trade has issued an import regulation:
- notification on the prohibition and certification requirements for importing logs, sawn timber, and wooden handicrafts, effective from July 17, 2023
- prohibition on importing Siamese rosewood logs, sawn timber, and wooden handicrafts from Cambodia and Laos
- prohibition on importing logs through customs checkpoints in Tak, Kanchanaburi, and Mae Hong Son provinces
- prohibition on importing sawn timber through the Mae Hong Son customs checkpoint
- logs, sawn timber, and wooden handicrafts not covered under the above prohibitions can be imported with a certificate of origin or proof of export permission
"As these new regulations are yet to take effect, exporters should carefully study and fully understand the requirements to ensure compliance and prevent operational issues."