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As many of you will be aware from a brief news item in last week's issue of Timber Trade Journal (25 November-2 December issue - CPET Decision), the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) CPET Advisory Board met on Monday 27th November to discuss the results of the 2006 review of certification schemes (CSA, FSC, PEFC, SFI and MTCC).
The minutes of the meeting will be published on the CPET web site in due course (www.proforest.net/cpet). In the meantime, its recommendations have not been made public. It is perhaps worth noting that the role of the CPET Reference Board is to advise DEFRA and its consultants. A final decision as to which certification schemes meet the CPET criteria will be taken by the Minister, Barry Gardiner MP, Parliamentary Secretary (Commons) (Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs).
From a written answer supplied to a question from Andy Reed, MP http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2006-1127a.105976.h&s=speaker%3A10500#g105976.q0, we expect the results of the 2006 review to be published before the end of 2006.
The PEFC Council has co-operated fully with the rigorous CPET assessment process over the past two years. It has sought and received the full co-operation of its 32 national member schemes and has made several changes to its documentation to comply with DEFRA?s requirements. We are therefore very hopeful that when the Minister announces the results of the review, PEFC will be considered to provide assurances that PEFC-certified products originate from legal and sustainable sources.
Ben Gunneberg
Secretary General
PEFC Council
28th November 2006
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