The EU signed a milestone agreement with the Central African Republicto prevent illegal wood imports to EU from this country. By 2014, therefore, all shipments of wood products to the European Union from the Central African Republic will be required to carry a licence certifying their legal origin.

A Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) which was signed between the EU and the Central African Republic, will boost Central African Republic's timber sector and will prevent illegal wood imports to EU from this country. Thus, from 2014, all shipments of wood products to the European Union from the Central African Republic will be required to carry a licence certifying their legal origin. In 2008, the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council determining the obligations of operators who make timber and timber products available on the market was published by the Commission.

Local stakeholders, such as timber companies and NGOs, have also been involved on the agreement with the Central African Republic. Under the agreement, Central African Republic intends to set up a national system to ensure legal compliance in timber production, covering all wood products destined for the EU as well as those sold on the domestic market and to non-EU markets. At the same time, the EU will guarantee unrestricted access to its markets for all wood products from the Central African Republic.

In addition, with this agreement, European consumers will be provided with the assurance that wood products imported from the Central African Republic, including furniture and wood chips used for bio-fuel, are of legal origin. The Agreement comes as a result of the strong mutual commitment to eradicate illegal logging and to bring more transparency to the timber trade. Besides ensuring the legality of its timber exports, the agreement will also promote the sustainable management of forests in the country.