Call for public comment on the Australian Standard for Chain of Custody of Forest and Tree Based Products

The Australian Standard, along with the Australian Standard for Sustainable Forest Management (AS 4708) was developed by Responsible Wood and are key components of the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme (RWCS).

AS / NZS 4707 underpins the endorsement of the PEFC Chain of Custody of Forest and Tree Based Products certification scheme operating in Australia.

“The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme is recognised as a world leading certification scheme for natural and plantation forests,” said the Chairman of the Standard Reference Committee, Peter Zed said.

“The Committee includes a broad range of organisations in Australia involved in forest management, forest research, auditing, community, environmental, indigenous and labour unions.”

“These organisations are keen to get public feedback on how the revised Standard can be further improved.”

The Committee invites public comment on the draft standard. Comments should be submitted by 5pm AEST, Friday the 25th of June 2021, preferably using the submission form available from Responsible Wood.

The review process is being undertaken in accordance with Standards Australia procedures, Responsible Wood is accredited as a Standards Development Organisation (SDO) and is accredited to develop Australian Standards in accordance with the standards development procedures.

The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme, of which AS 4707 is a key component, is accredited by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). PEFC is the world’s largest certification system for sustainable forest management.

The Standard Reference Committee has sought to ensure that the revised standard (AS 4707) continues to be consistent with PEFC endorsement requirements.

The draft Standard, the submission form and a copy of major changes to the standard can be downloaded from the Responsible Wood website (click in the two links to download).

For more information about the revision of the Australian Standard for Chain of Custody of Forest and Tree Based Products please contact: Simon Dorries (CEO – Responsible Wood) on 07 3359 1758 or email [email protected]

NOTES

Responsible Wood is a Standards Development Organisation (SDO) and a not-for-profit public company registered in July 2003. Previously known as the Australian Forestry Standard Limited, the company is one of five SDO’s accredited through the Standards Development and Accreditation Committee (SDAC) of Standards Australia and owns the standard development functions and manages elements of the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme. The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme (RWCS):

• Provides Australian and overseas consumers with an independent, internationally recognised third-party certification scheme for forest management in Australia
• Promotes a culture of ‘continuous improvement’ of sustainable forest management practices in Australia
• Supports a market for forest products that are a result of sustainable forest management practices and value adding processors that maintain the integrity of the source forest certification and promotes the broader environmental benefits of using wood-based products

MEDIA CONTACTS

For more information contact:

Jason Ross, Marketing and Communications Officer, Responsible Wood on (07) 3359 1758 or 0448 190 055, [email protected]