PEFC Czech Republic undergoes public consultation in continuous improvement process

The Czech forest certification scheme is undergoing public consultation as part of PEFC?s re-endorsement process for a second 5 year period. ?Periodic assessments before re-endorsement are central elements in PEFC?s commitment to the principle of continuous improvement?, said Mr Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of the PEFC Council. ?PEFC has in place a system of rigorous internal and external assessment procedures before an endorsement and this benchmark check is repeated at regular intervals.? The procedures ensure that latest scientific research, new PEFC requirements and practical experience from the field are systematically implemented at national, regional and local level.

The Czech scheme is the 7th national certification system being analyzed by independent consultants for a second 5 year PEFC endorsement. "The commitment by these seven systems to become re-endorsed by PEFC demonstrates the demand for forest certification and that it has become a decisive market factor for timber and paper companies in the responsible sourcing of their raw materials" Mr Gunneberg added. "The public consultation on the Czech certification system starts today, and the general public can comment on the scheme' s documentation, available at the PEFC Council website www.pefc.org. I invite everyone to send comments directly to the consultant, FORM International, by 11 September 2006."
ENDS

Consultants
FORM International
P.H.V. Hol
Ridderstraat 2
8051 EH Hattem
The Netherlands
Tel + 31 38 444 89 90
Fax + 31 38 444 89 91
E-mail: info@forminternational.nl

Applicant:
PEFC Czech Republic
Ms Zuzana Brenesselov?
Ceska zemedelska univerzita
Skolni lesni podnik , Nam. Smirickych 1
Z?mek 1, 281 63 Kostelec nad Cernymi Lesy
Czech Republic
Tel + 420 220 517 137
Fax + 420 220 517 139
pefc@pefc.cz
www.pefc.cz

PEFC Council:
Mr Oliver Scholz
17, rue des Girondins
L-1626 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Tel +352 26 25 90 59
Fax +352 26 25 92 58
Email: comms@pefc.org
http://www.pefc.org

Editor Notes

Forest Certification
Forest certification is a process, which provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that the wood used in the products comes from sustainably managed forests. Sustainably managed forests are those whose management implements performance standards based on internationally agreed environmental, social and economical requirements.

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes)
PEFC is a framework for the mutual recognition of credible national or regional forest certification schemes that have been developed based on internationally recognised requirements for sustainable forest management. Since its launch in 1999, PEFC has become the largest forest certification umbrella organisation covering national schemes from all over the world, delivering hundreds of millions of tonnes of wood to the processing industry and then onto the market place from over 190 million hectares of certified forests. PEFC has strong grass roots support from many stakeholders including the forestry sector, governments, trade associations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations.