Category A

Assessment criteria

The requirements that had been historically set out in the contract conditions and the variant specification were used as the basis for an evaluation of the certification schemes. The most objective and effective way of doing this was through the development and use of criteria which set out in detail how a scheme must be designed and operated in order to deliver Government requirements. 

Certification schemes include four main components:

• the standard,
• the certification process,
• accreditation requirements,
• control of chain of custody and claims.

This is reflected in the recommendations in the original consultants’ report for government, and in the contract conditions and variant specification. Therefore, the criteria were developed in four corresponding sections.

The contract conditions and the variant specification were carefully analysed and requirements for certification schemes to meet these were drafted as criteria. At the end of this process, 26 criteria had been identified, divided between the sections on the standard , certification process, accreditation, chain of custody and claims.

Once the first draft of the criteria had been prepared, an iterative review process was undertaken. This included inputs from the Government such as Department for International Development (DFID) and the Forestry Commission (FC), the five certification schemes and by a Reference Board which included UK Timber Trade Federation and WWF UK. The comments received were used to finalise the criteria. Almost all comments were fully or partially incorporated with the exception of some suggestions for major modifications.The criteria were then submitted to DEFRA for final confirmation and approval, and were then circulated to the five certification schemes and made publicly available.

In early 2006, a review of the criteria was undertaken in order to clarify the existing criteria. As a result of this consultation process, an updated version of the criteria was published. Criteria for Evaluating Certification Schemes, (Category A Evidence) Second Edition is availble for download, or upon request from cpet.

Results

An initial assessment of five certification schemes was undertaken in 2004, and regular reviews are undertaken to ensure they continue to offer assurance of legality and sustainability.  The most recent results are available here:

• Canadian Standard Association (CSA), which is applicable in Canada
• Full Report
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which is international in scope
• Full Report
• Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), which is applicable in Malaysia
• Full Report
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC), which is international in scope
• Full Report
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), which is applicable in US and Canada
• Full Report

A brief overview of the results is available in the Forest certification section of this website.

These schemes are reviewed bi-anually, and copies of historical documents are available in our Archive.