Secondary forest products, in particular wood, roots, bark from stems or resins, leaves, fruits, sap or any other part of certain species presenting either certain properties of a medicinal nature, or a particular economic interest for certain users, may only be exploited with a special permit, even within a forest granted for exploitation.
The list of these “special” species is established by order of the Minister responsible for forests.
The special permit is personal and non-transferable.
Special permits are granted for a period of one year, by order of the Minister responsible for forests, after consultation with the Technical Commission. However, longer-term permits may be granted in certain special cases, notably where a local processing unit is to be set up.
The special permit specifies, in particular, the quantities of products to be harvested, the list of special species authorized for exploitation, the area of exploitation, the conditions for export or local use of the products, and the conditions for its renewal.
Annual quotas for each type of product to be harvested by all special permit holders are set at the beginning of each season by order of the Minister in charge of Forests.
In order to obtain a special permit, you must submit a file including:
1°. a stamped application specifying:
– surname, first name, nationality, profession and place of residence, if an individual;
– company name, articles of association, registered office, share capital and breakdown, name of Director or Manager, if a company.
2° financial resources committed;
3° the planned investments and the guarantee of their financing. These investments must indicate in particular:
– planned means of transport;
– existing warehouses and other means to be used to ensure proper preservation of products;
– measures taken to process part of the production locally;
4° The list of species to be harvested, the quantities of products to be harvested and the harvesting locations*,
5° An excerpt from the forestry hammer imprint deposit in the case of logs;
6° An affidavit stating that the applicant is aware of current regulations, will comply with them and will cooperate with the Forestry Administration in monitoring his activity.
In the case of renewal of the permit, the file must include the following documents:
– A stamped application;
– A copy of the old permit;
– A copy of each of the certificates of origin if the holder has exported the products;
– Receipts certifying payment of the reforestation tax and the sale price of the products;
– A detailed report on activities during the past campaign, with details of the quantities of products exported or processed locally.
Any holder of a special permit must sign a schedule of conditions with the Forestry Administration;
– Product harvesting conditions;
– Transport conditions;
– Tax payment terms.
Holders of special permits are required to deliver at least 60% of their products for local processing.
At the end of each season, the logging company sends a report on its activities to L’ Administration forestière.
The export of secondary forest products is subject to a certificate of origin issued by the Minister in charge of forests. This file includes:
– Proof of payment of taxes;
– A copy of the special permit;
– A copy of the exporter’s certificate of approval;
– Attestations issued by one or more processing units, certifying that the permit holder has delivered at least 60% of his production for local processing.
To facilitate inspections by the Forestry Administration, harvested products are required to be marked or numbered, particularly in the case of logs.
The operator must also keep a logbook.
The movement of products is accompanied by a consignment note.
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