The announcement of the deferment from the planned implementation date for the new obligation of December 31 was made by NPPD chairman Chris Sutton to an audience of 270 at the Division’s annual dinner in London on November 13.
He said the delay was to give members more time to ensure supplier mills were testing to the British Standard and had the third-party assessment systems in place.
"I’ve recently been to Indonesia and Malaysia for the TTF and it’s been useful to have eye-to-eye discussions on the issue," he said. "We’ve told the mills what we want and how we want it marked, and they’ve engaged with us and said they can do it and for not too much of a premium. But we’ve decided to delay the cut-off point from 2013 slightly in order to allow everyone to get the [necessary] process completed."
At the same time, the NPPD also stressed that its stipulation still stands that from the beginning of June this year all members placing marine plywood on the market should have test evidence for compliance with BS 1088, albeit without the requirement yet that this is third-party quality assured.
Mr Sutton also urged members to maintain their overall commitment to delivering, sustainable, fit for purpose products.
"It’s always been my mantra as chairman," he said. "In the face of such strong competition from rival materials – steel, concrete and aluminium – we must put products on the market that can do the job."
He also told members that, having served two years as chairman, he would be willing to stay on another year, if they approved.
"It’s been an interesting journey, but I feel there is unfinished business and I don’t believe in stepping down until a job is done," he said.
For more on this story see the next issue of TTJ.
