The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes has alerted all its members of their entitlement to respond to a government environmental audit committee (EAC) inquiry into sustainable timber.
The move has been applauded by some members, including timber merchant Keith Fryer of T Brewer & Co Ltd, who said: “What it shows very positively about PEFC is that they are brave enough to contact their scheme members and ask them to comment independently.”
The EAC set up a sub-committee in July to conduct an inquiry into sustainable timber and it has invited organisations and the public to comment in writing by September 22. Oral evidence will be taken in October.
Issues on which the sub-committee would welcome comment include: how useful has the work of Central Point of Expertise on Timber proved; how reliable are CPET endorsed timber certification schemes; is there sufficient data to determine where and how timber purchased by government is sourced; and whether the use of certification schemes are enough to ensure the timber requirements of the UK and EU do not have a detrimental impact on forests and biodiversity in developing countries.
