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This document outlines the key points of the UK Government's Timber Procurement Policy as of January 2006, focusing on the changes to the PEFC system, annual certification scheme assessments, and assurance assessment criteria. It highlights the involvement of various boards and stakeholders in ensuring the sustainability of timber procurement. The report also discusses social criteria and the efforts to engage local authorities, harmonize policies with EU member states, and promote responsible timber purchasing internationally. Key results and findings are expected by February 2006.
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UK GOVERNMENT’S TIMBER PROCUREMENT POLICYClaire TrelivingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsJanuary 2006 1
PEFC System Changes • CPET checking PEFC national bodies for system change adoption • Findings will be discussed with PEFC • HMG to announce results Feb 06 • All national bodies must have adopted the changes if PEFC is to continue providing assurance of sustainable timber 2
Certification Scheme Assessments • Annual review of all the assessed schemes planned to start at end of Feb 06 • CPET Ref Board will consider revising assessment methodology guidance to include evidence of system adoption • Performance in the forest cannot be part of the assessment process 4
Assurance Assessment Criteria • CPET Ref Board will consider suggestions for improving Cat A criteria • CPET would welcome suggestions • Certification schemes to be consulted • Category B assurance criteria will be modelled on Category A
Central Point of Expertise on Timber • Reference Board expanded to include FERN and Confor • CPET to check policy implementation by central departments • CPET to research barriers to supply • Training workshops continuing
CPET Web Address • http://www.proforest.net/cpet 5
Social Criteria • HMG re-examining scope for including criteria in contracts to help forest dependent people • Defra, OGC and CPET working to produce a report by end Jan 2006 • Defra will meet with Danes and Dutch to explore the possibility of a common approach • Caution against raising expectations at this stage • Any change would have far reaching implications for UK public sector procurement policy
Timber Policy Promotion • Engaging local authorities is a major goal • Responsible timber purchasing features in the sustainable procurement initiatives now underway • Harmonising policies with EU member states is another goal but we also need to persuade more to develop policies • International promotion beyond EU being done through G8, UN and bi-laterally.