Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/178) (“the principal Regulations”) which enforce Council Regulation (EC) No. 2173/2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community (OJ No. L 347, 30.12.2005, p. 1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1024/2008 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2173/2005 (OJ No. L 277, 18.10.2008, p. 23).

Regulation 2 inserts a provision into the principal Regulations requiring a person applying for verification of a FLEGT licence to pay a fee of £31 to the Secretary of State.

A full impact assessment of the effect of the principal Regulations on the costs of business, and the voluntary sector is available on the Defra website (www.gov.uk/defra) or from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR and is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside the principal Regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk. This includes an assessment of the effect of the future introduction of a fee for the verification of a FLEGT licence.