Indonesian Forestry Cos Required to Follow Eco-Labeling Code
Copyright 2001 Asia Pulse
December 4, 2001
JAKARTA, Dec 4 - The Indonesian government has said it will require all forest concessionaires to obtain ecolabeling certificates by 2003 as part of efforts to improve the country's bad reputation for environmental negligence.
The certificate will be issued by independent agency, said Forestry Minister M. Prakosa, noting that the certifying agency is yet to be named. Prakosa said a concessionaire failing to secure the certificate will not be allowed to continue operation.
He said President Megawati Soekarnoputri has approved the regulation to be complied with by 375 forest concessionaires in the country.
Industrialized countries have boycotted imports of products of tropical timber without ecolabeling certificates due to the rampant forestry mismanagement and clearcutting practises that have already destroyed most of the world's essential tropical rainforests.