18.10.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 27723 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1024/2008 of 17 October 2008 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community (!), and in particular Article 5(9) thereof, Whereas: The EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) (%) sets out measures that aim to combat the problem of illegal logging and the associated trade. The Action Plan proposes the deve- lopment of a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade licensing scheme (hereinafter referred to as the FLEGT licensing scheme) to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported from countries participating in the scheme. Under this scheme the Community aims to conclude Voluntary Partnership Agreements with countries and regional organisations (FLEGT partner countries). Timber products exported from FLEGT partner countries to the Community should be covered by a FLEGT licence issued by the licensing authority of that country. The FLEGT licence should demonstrate the legality of the timber products covered, as set out in the corresponding FLEGT Voluntary  Partnership Agreement. Regulation (EC) 2173/2005 lays down EU procedures for the implementation of the FLEGT licensing scheme, including a requirement for imports into the Community of timber products originating in FLEGT partner countries to be covered by a FLEGT licence. () O] L 347, 30.12.2005, p. 1. () COM(2003) 251 final. S In order to ensure the effectiveness of the FLEGT licensing scheme the competent authorities should verify that the timber products declared for release for free circulation into the Community are covered by a FLEGT licence. The FLEGT licence should be accepted provided that certain conditions have been fulfilled. It is therefore necessary to lay down detailed provisions relating to the conditions for the acceptance of the FLEGT licence. In order to ensure consistent treatment of FLEGT licences by the authorities in the Member States it is necessary to set out the information to be included in the licence. Furthermore it is necessary to provide for a standardised format of the FLEGT licences so as to facilitate their effective verification. Given the competitiveness of the international timber trade, the implementation of the FLEGT licensing scheme requires that the procedures concerning the release for free circulation of FLEGT licensed timber products do not lead to undue delays in importation procedures. It is therefore necessary to provide for procedures for the verification and acceptance of the FLEGT licence which are as simple and practical as possible, without however compromising the credibility of the system. The Community and the Member States have committed themselves, under the Lisbon Agenda, to increasing the competitiveness of companies doing business in Europe. Pursuant to Decision 2004/387[/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on interoperable delivery of pan-European e-Government services to public administrations, businesses and citizens (IDABC) (}), the Commission and the Member States should provide efficient, effective and interoperable information and communication systems for the exchange of information between public administrations and Community citizens. () O] L 144, 30.4.2004, p. 65. Corrected by O] L 181, 18.5.2004, p. 25.