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34 FoCUs Jan/Feb 2024 FDM AsiA | www.fdmasia.com

Michele Dorsey Walfred (MAB) and the Certifcation Bodies (CB) notifed by MFCC.
The post adds that the MFCC sought assistance from
the Vietnam Bureau of Accreditation (BoA) after the MFCC
had tried unsuccessfully to cooperate with SAC (Singapore
Accreditation Council) for a Joint-Assessment between
Myanmar Accreditation Body and SAC for the Accreditation

to Myanmar certifcation bodies.
Since the Myanmar Accreditation Body is not a member of
any International Accreditation Forum, it alone cannot accredit
CBs in Myanmar. Against this background the Myanmar
Accreditation Body had to consider cooperating with another
Industry ready to intensify presence in Asian markets National Accreditation Body for a joint-assessment of the
Wiradadi Soeprayogo, Chairman of the Indonesian Sawmill and Myanmar’s CBs.
Woodworking Association (ISWA), said the timber industries are It is understood that in, the absence of international
ready to intensify marketing in Asian countries as they anticipate accreditation, Myanmar CBs were not recognised in international

a further decline in demand in Europe and America which is markets and the Myanmar conformity assessment reports
already having a negative impact on ISWA members business. on the legality of Myanmar Forest Products were viewed as
He said in 2022 the export value of wood products unverifable.
and sawnwood reached US$2.4 billion but in 2023 (as of The cooperation with Vietnam was carried out under
November) a decline of 13 percent was observed. He added an ITTO-MFCC Project and the joint-assessment process
that to penetrate new markets exporters must be prepared was outlined between Myanmar and Vietnam which, it is
to meet the specifc requirements in the various markets and hoped, will lead to the international recognition of Myanmar

prepared to address their concerns on environmental issues. Certifcation Bodies.
He said that these various challenges cannot be overcome
by ISWA alone, but require inclusive collaboration with related Emerging role of NTFP and plantation timber
parties, namely the government, universities and professional The Myanmar Wood-Based Furniture Association (MWBFA) has
organisations. taken another step in its business promotion efforts with a
visit to Union Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental
MYANMAR Conservation (MONREC) to discuss the opportunities from
Certifcation body seeks assistance in accreditation utilising non-timber forest products and plantation species
A recent post on the Myanmar Forest Certifcation Committee other than teak.

(MFCC) website mentions cooperation between MFCC and Early this month the MWBFA sponsored the Myanmar
counterparts in Vietnam to address issues of accreditation of Furniture Exhibition. According to local news outlets the
the certifcation bodies who are notifed by MFCC. Association members showcased furniture made from non-
The post mentions that “in a signifcant step towards timber forest products such as rattan, bamboo and from fast
promoting sustainable forest practices and gaining international growing plantations species such as Acacia.
recognition for national certifcation bodies, MFCC joined a Because of sanctions on the Myanma Timber Enterprise
study tour to Vietnam with the Myanmar Accreditation Body (MTE) opportunities for wood product exports are impacted.