Belgium

In November 2005 the Belgian Council of Ministers committed to use only timber  from sustainably managed forests to cover its needs for wood and wood products. The policy covers all timber and wood-derived products, with the exception of paper.

Compliance with the policy is compulsory for all contracting authorities of the federal and planning public services and for the public bodies that are under the authority, the control or the supervision of the federal Government with respect to purchasing, hiring or leasing products that contain wood.

Timber from sustainably managed forests is defined as:  “Wood from forests under sustainable forest management as certified by an independent body and based on internationally recognised criteria.”  Forest certification schemes are assessed against 11 criteria, including 2 social criteria, by an expert committee.   FSC certification,  PEFC Belgium and some national PEFC certification schemes meet these requirements.  Equivalent certification carried out by an independent body and based on the above criteria may also be acceptable, and is assessed ad hoc by an expert committee.   As described in the offical Circular, it is forseen that every two years an independent in-depth evaluation of the policy and the certification schemes will be undertaken (next scheduled for early 2008).

A number of documents are available online to assist federal contracting authorities in their procurement of wood products from sustainably managed forests:

Circular letter P&O/DO/2 (Official version in Dutch and French)

Circular letter P&O/DO/2 Public procurement policy aimed at promoting use of timber and wood from sustainably managed forests (in English)

Guide for sustainable purchases (in Dutch and French)

Methodological guide for certified sustainable timber (in French)

Contact information

Christophe Van Orshoven
Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
EUROSTATION bloc II
Place Victor Horta 40 box 10
B - 1060 Brussels

Phone: (+32) 2 524 96 55

Email: VanOrshoven.Christophe@health.fgov.be

Any queries relating to the methodological guide or provision of the public procurement policy may be addressed to the Federal Public Service of Environment either by e-mail at environment@health.fgov.be or telephone +(32) 2 524 96 24.

 Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information on existing national timber procurement policies, we recommend checking with the national procurement policy contacts for the most up to date information.