Wednesday, 01 December 2004
FSC International Update
There are a number of issues currently under review or in development at FSC International. We wanted to update you with some brief descriptions of these efforts.
Controlled Wood Register
The mechanism through which companies will determine whether wood is controversial or not will be the Controlled Wood Register. The Register will:
• Enable wood products manufacturers to exclude unwanted wood from their supply chain.
• Allow purchasers and retailers to implement socially and environmentally responsible purchasing policies and the demands of environmental organizations and consumers.
• Move suppliers of non-certified wood towards greater transparency and accountability.
• Provide forest enterprises with an interim step to “move up” to certification and make a significant contribution to improving practices in the wood products industry worldwide.
The Register will be developed in two distinct phases. In the first phase, using its extensive network of National Initiatives, social and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGO), research organizations and government agencies, FSC will compile basic data on high-risk sources and upload it onto the Register.
In the second phase, FSC will identify any gaps in the data and work with key partners to expand and improve the quality of the data. FSC will work with partners such as World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch to target future data collection efforts towards providing a better more comprehensive register of risks. FSC will ensure that the Controlled Wood Register, once finalized, will contain the most up to date information on high-risk sources and will be financially self-supporting.
FSC-US and FSC International are looking for NGO, forest products companies and other partners who would be interested in helping develop the Register. FSC is also looking for companies to pilot test the implementation of the controlled wood standard and the Register.
Review of FSC’s Policy on Plantations
The intent of the review of FSC’s policy on plantations is to engage social, environmental and economic stakeholders in an international review of the implementation of the FSC Principles and Criteria on plantations, and to provide clear guidance for their future implementation.
A two-phase review process is planned. In the first phase, the deep, underlying policy issues need to be identified, debated, and resolved. A Board-endorsed Policy Working Group will coordinate this ‘policy’ phase of the review, with northern and southern representatives from each FSC membership chamber.
In the second phase, technical solutions will be developed to meet the policy requirements previously identified. This ‘technical’ phase of the review will be coordinated by a Technical Working Group, and the final results will be approved by the Board of Directors, and if necessary, the FSC membership.
For both phases, national meetings and stakeholder input will form a key part of the process. E-mail discussion forums and review groups have been created for all persons interested in taking part in this review process. To subscribe to the plantations email forum, please send a request to forum.administrator@fsc.org.
Building and Construction Sector
FSC is now considering options to promote appropriate verifiable claims related to the procurement and utilization of certified wood and wood products in the building and construction sector. The goal will be to develop a framework with appropriate standards that could allow claims on construction projects to be made while maintaining FSC’s integrity. FSC International will be finalizing a discussion paper on this issue.
Product and Project Registration
FSC International is now considering the development and testing of three specific tools to improve both control and use of the FSC Trademarks. These tools would add to the existing options for control and promotion of the FSC Trademarks, and streamline some of the current difficulties associated with implementation of chain-of-custody requirements.
FSC Product Registration
“FSC Product Registration” is a system by which specific FSC finished products would be registered with FSC by companies in the same way that products which are compliant with, for example, strength specifications, may be registered. The system would enable uncertified brokers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to promote finished products that had been registered with FSC.
FSC Project Registration
“Project Registration” is a system by which project managers may apply to FSC or its agents to register a project as meeting specified FSC requirements. Examples of the potential for project registration include such major events as the Olympic games, the building of stadiums, airports, housing complexes or major architectural projects.
FSC Company Registration (including Retailer Registration)
“FSC Company Registration” includes but is not limited to the idea of ‘retailer registration’. It would be applicable in situations in which a company wants to make aggregate claims (e.g. “all of our products are FSC-certified” or “85% of our wood products carry the FSC label”). Company registration could be applicable also at the level of a forest management company wishing to make off-product claims such as “all of our forests are FSC-certified.”
If you would like more detailed information about any of these efforts, or would like to participate in any of the pilot tests, contact Ned Daly at ndaly@fscus.org