PEFC Standard Setting - Requirements

PEFC ST 1001:200X (ED 1.0)

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Sarah Price

PEFC Council Head of Development

2 components of the Standard:

1. Standardising Body

2. Standard setting process

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Scope: Covers requirement for forest management & scheme specific chain of custody standards

Basic approach

1. The document is using a process approach – Example: defines requirements for the standard setting process

from its beginning “identification of need for standard setting/revision” to “publication of the standard”

2. The document defines “how to manage the multi-stakeholder process” & set up parameters of this process.

– Example: does not prescribe “balanced representation of stakeholders” or specific decision making model.

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Requirements for the Standardising Body:

To identify a body for building consensus (WG/committee) and a body for formal approval of the Standard;

To have written standard setting procedures, which are publicly available;

To keep records of the standard setting process;

To have a WG/committee, responsible for the standardisation work with balanced representation of stakeholders;

To have procedures for any substantive or procedural complaints.

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Requirements for the Standard Setting Process:

To proactively identify stakeholders;

To identify “disadvantaged and key stakeholders” and address constraints for their participation;

To publically announce & extend invititations announcing start of process, opportunities to engage, etc;

Working Group organized/functions in an open and transparent manner;

Working Group agrees requirements & a process for consensus;

Requirements for public consultation of draft standard will be fulfilled;

Final standard will be formally approved; and published;

Standards will be revised regularly.

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Critical issues

1. Scope

Should the standard setting procedures apply to the development of forest management and C-o-C standards or the whole scheme?

2. Requirements for balanced representation of stakeholders

ED requires the WG/committee to be (i) accessible to stakeholders, (ii) balanced representation and decision making amongst interest categories, (iii) single interest shall not dominate nor be dominated, (iv) participation of materially affected persons.

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Critical issues

3. How to incorporate “disadvantaged and key stakeholders”

ED requires the standardisation body to (i) identify interested & relevant stakeholders, (ii) address constraints and proactively seek their participation, (iii) direct invitation of those stakeholders to the process and public consultation.

4. Building consensus and decision making

ED uses the ISO definition of the consensus and requires the WG/committee to resolve “sustained oppositions to substantial issues by important part of the concerned interests”.

ED does not define a specific voting model as this is to be decided by stakeholders at the national level.

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Key differences from previous Standard:

Improved structure following the standard setting process,

More attention to:

(i) “disadvantaged and key stakeholders”;

(ii) ensuring balanced representation;

(iii) building consensus; and

(iv) transparency of the standard setting process .

(e.g. public standard setting procedures, invitations, standard setting report, complaints procedures, etc.)

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