|
| PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) announced the start of the public consultation period for the assessment of Portuguese Forest Certification Scheme.
"This is the 17th independent national scheme, developed to promote sustainable forest management and its third party certification, which is seeking endorsement and mutual recognition under the PEFC umbrella." said Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of the PEFC Council. PEFC has to date successfully assessed and endorsed 13 independent national forest certification schemes covering some 52 million hectares of certified forests, delivering millions of tonnes of certified wood based products from sustainably managed forests to the market place.
"The PEFC umbrella, as the world's largest mutual recognition umbrella, provides the mechanism for independent assessment against its 195 requirements for credible forest certification schemes and all interested stakeholder around the world are urged to participate in the public consultation process which forms an essential part of the rigorous assessment process." added Mr Gunneberg.
The independent consultant appointed, following a competitive tendering process to undertake the assessment, is BM Trada / Canopy Consulting, and those interested in participating in the consultation process are encouraged to view the Portuguese scheme on the PEFC website www.pefc.org and send comments directly to the consultants by 20th July 2004.
Independent national schemes from Australia, Chile, and Italy are currently at different stages in the assessment process, and an application for assessment has just been received from Canada.
Ends
For more information contact:
Ms. Paula Salazar, Portuguese scheme - Tel +351 21 796 00 54
Mr. Ben Gunneberg, PEFC Council - Tel +352 26 25 90 5
Consultants Details:
Mr Willie Walker
BM TRADA / Canopy consultants
Jupiter House
Tattenhall, CH3 9RB Cheshire, UK
Email: wbw@canopy.u-net.com
|
|
|
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 forest. Sustainably managed forest 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 52 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.
|
|
