Malaysian timber certification is set to gain sustainability approval from the UK government, as soon as vital revisions are implemented.
The government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) announced the news on December 19 as part of the results of its periodic review of forest certification schemes.
Until now the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (formerly known as MTCC) was judged as providing evidence of timber’s legality, but not sustainability.
But CPET said the scheme was in the process of introducing revisions, which when fully in place would meet sustainability criteria.
“Once the transition is complete and this has been confirmed to the CPET reference board, MTCS-certified products containing 70% or more material from certified forests will deliver UK government requirements for sustainability,” CPET said.
During the transition, MTCS will continue to provide evidence of legality.
CPET said substantial changes had been made to the scheme since the last review in 2006.
Meanwhile, CPET’s review found that the four other main forest certification schemes – FSC, PEFC, CSA and SFI – all continue to deliver evidence of legality and sustainability.
CSA and SFI will no longer be individually assessed in the next review in 2010, as they are endorsed by the global PEFC programme.
