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MC&I(2002) IS NOW READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION BEGINNING 2005, 10 June 2005 The Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification [MC&I(2002)] that was finalised and adopted by consensus at the National-level Consultation in October 2002 is now ready for implementation. The MC&I(2002), which is based on the Principles and Criteria (P&C) of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), has been refined, taking into account the outcome of the field tests carried out in the three region namely Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. The three regional field-tests were conducted by independent assessors registered with MTCC. Representatives of various stakeholder groups (environmental, social and economic groups and direct resource managers) from the respective regions also participated in the field-tests. MTCC will be using the MC&I(2002) for the next phase of its certification scheme beginning 2005. The MC&I(2002) is a result of the collaboration between MTCC and the FSC which was initiated in 1999. Under the collaboration, a Workshop on Forest Certification was held in December 2000 that resulted in the formation of a multi-stakeholder National Steering Committee (NSC) which held its first meeting in April 2001. The NSC was given the task to revise the existing forest management standard so as to be compatible with the requirements of the FSC. To date, the NSC has held seven meetings where important decisions were made, paving the way for the development and adoption of the MC&I(2002). The NSC considered the outcomes of the three field tests at its seventh meeting in August 2004, and decided to adopt the MC&I(2002) as the standard for forest management certification. The MC&I(2002) will be reviewed and updated periodically, based on feedback and experience gained through its application in the field. A series of briefing
sessions for all FMU managers as well as Assessor Companies and Peer
Reviewers with regard to the scope and requirements of the MC&I(2002)
have been conducted as follows: THE STANDARD FOR CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY CERTIFICATION REVISED, 3 February 2005 The current standard for chain-of-custody certification used by the MTCC timber certification scheme since it started its operation in December 2001, the Requirements and Assessment Procedures for Chain-of-Custody Certification or RAP/COC document (dated 3 November 2000), was recently reviewed. The new document, referred to as the Requirements for Chain-of-Custody Certification (RCOC), will be the standard used for chain-of-custody certification of wood processing or trading companies under the MTCC scheme beginning January 2006. However, it is envisaged that assessments using the RCOC can be carried out on a voluntary basis, after April 2005. The periodic review and updating of the chain-of-custody standard is to take into account the latest international developments as well as to incorporate best practices in chain-of-custody certification which are appropriate to local conditions in Malaysia. The review process was initiated by MTCC in February 2004 through a letter which was sent to all the relevant stakeholder groups, informing them of the proposed review and inviting them to submit their comments and proposals for amendments to the RAP/COC document. For the review, MTCC had proposed that the RAP/COC document be re-issued as two separate documents, i.e. the new RCOC which will set out the requirements for chain-of-custody certification, and the Assessment Procedures for Chain-of-Custody Certification which will deal with the general procedures for assessors to follow in conducting assessments for chain-of-custody certification. The draft RCOC incorporating proposed amendments received from the stakeholders was finalized and adopted at the two-day national consultation held on 25-26 August 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, which was attended by 66 participants representing the various stakeholder groups in Malaysia. The RCOC will be
reviewed and updated periodically, based on feedback and experience
gained through its application in the field. REGIONAL FIELD TESTING OF MC&I(2002) COMPLETED, 1 June 2004 The MC&I(2002), which was finalized and adopted by consensus at the multi-stakeholder National-level Consultation held on 28-30 October 2002, has now been field tested in the three regions of Malaysia, i.e. Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. MTCC will be using this standard for the next phase of its timber certification scheme beginning 2005. The decision to field-test the MC&I(2002), which is based on the Principles and Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), was made at the National-level Consultation. This decision was subsequently endorsed by the National Steering Committee (NSC) at its 6th Meeting. The field-tests involved a thorough evaluation of the MC&I(2002) to assess its practical application in assessing Forest Management Units (FMUs) for the purpose of timber certification. The field-test for
Sabah was conducted in the Deramakot Forest Reserve from 9-13 February
2004 by an independent assessment team comprising three auditors from
SGS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., one of the assessor companies registered with
MTCC. In addition, in line with the decision to invite the environmental,
social and economic stakeholder groups and direct resource managers
from the respective regions to participate and provide the necessary
inputs to assist in the field-test, representatives from the following
organisations, who were nominated by the appointed coordinators after
due consultations within the respective stakeholder groups, also participated
in the field-test:- The field-test for
Peninsular Malaysia was conducted in the Perak Forest Management Unit
(FMU) from 1-6 March 2004 by an independent assessment team comprising
three auditors from SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd., which is also
registered with MTCC. Similarly, representatives from the following
organisations, who were nominated by the appointed coordinators, participated
in the field-test:- The field test for
Sarawak was conducted in Ulu Baleh, Kapit on 7 - 12 May 2004 by an independent
assessment team comprising four auditors from the Forest Research Institute
Malaysia (FRIM), with two of them being local auditors who are well
versed with social issues related to forest management in Sarawak. Similarly,
representatives from the following organisations, who were nominated
by appointed coordinators, participated in the field test :- The independent
assessment teams, through consultations and inputs from the stakeholder
representatives who participated in the field-tests, have made various
recommendations which include: MTCC, as the NSC Secretariat, will collate the outcomes of the three field tests for presentation, consideration and decision of the Seventh Meeting of the NSC which has been scheduled to be held on 10 - 11 August 2004. NOTIFICATION ON USE OF MC&I (2002) BY MTCC SCHEME, 1 April 2004 The MTCC timber certification scheme, which began operation in October 2001, is being implemented using a phased approach. The certification standard currently used for assessing Forest Management Units (FMUs) is the Malaysian Criteria, Indicators, Activities and Standards of Performance for Forest Management Certification dated 4 October 2001 [MC&I(2001)], which is based on the ITTO Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Management of Natural Tropical Forests. In line with the phased approach, MTCC had announced, through its Press Release dated 26 August 2003, its intention to use the new standard entitled Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification and dated 30 October 2002 [MC&I(2002)], which is based on the Principles and Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The MC&I(2002) was finalised and adopted by consensus at the National-level Consultation held on 28-30 October 2002 in Kuala Lumpur. The MC&I(2002) is currently being field-tested, following which it will be refined to take into account the results of the field tests. A target date of 1 January 2005 has been set to start using the MC&I(2002) to assess all FMUs for the purpose of forest management certification under the MTCC scheme. In order to ensure a smooth transition to the use of the MC&I(2002), MTCC has decided on the following deadlines and arrangements which need to be complied with by parties already certified by MTCC as well as new applicants for certification: Forest Management Certification
Chain-of-Custody Certification
In view of MTCC's decision to use the MC&I(2002) beginning January 2005, all current Certificates for Forest Management based on the MC&I(2001) shall be valid until 31 December 2005. This is to allow a one year transition period (2005) during which the existing certified FMUs will be in possession of the certificate while they undergo assessment to the MC&I(2002). All managers of FMUs therefore should be fully aware of the above-mentioned deadlines and arrangements. They are also advised to familiarise themselves with the requirements of the MC&I(2002) in order to prepare themselves for these changes. The MC&I(2002) can be obtained from the MTCC office or downloaded from its web site. Please contact the MTCC office at 03-92005008 or e-mail to mtcc@tm.net.my should you have any enquiry on this matter. Click HERE for a Diagrammatic Presentation of the Deadlines and Arrangements for Use of MC&I(2002) by the MTCC Timber Certification Scheme MTCC
INVITES PROPOSALS FOR ITS REVIEW ON REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
FOR The document entitled Requirements and Assessment Procedures for Chain-of-Custody Certification (RAP/COC) and dated 3 November 2000 is the key document related to chain-of-custody (CoC) certification. The RAP/COC can be downloaded from MTCC's website (see under the heading Documents). The RAP/COC sets out the requirements and assessment procedures for CoC certification and has been used as the basis for assessments for CoC certification under the MTCC timber certification scheme. It also provides the necessary information to companies interested in obtaining CoC certification from MTCC as well as auditors in carrying out CoC assessments. The RAP/COC is the output of consultations and discussions carried out in 2000, as well as a project funded by the German Agency for Technical Coorperation (GTZ) which was completed in 2001. MTCC is of the view that the RAP/COC should be reviewed at this juncture to take into account the latest international developments and to incorporate best practices in CoC certification which are appropriate to local conditions in Malaysia. Since November 2002, MTCC has become a member of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) Council, formerly known as the Pan European Forest Certification Council. MTCC is now making preparations to submit its scheme for the endorsement of the PEFC Council. In line with the requirements of the PEFC Council, the revision of the RAP/COC has to be through a forum involving all relevant stakeholder groups whose views shall be documented and considered in an open and transparent way. In this connection, MTCC is planning to organise such a forum in the form of a national consultation in July 2004 to consider and decide on proposals to review the RAP/COC. As preparation for the proposed national consultation, MTCC cordially invites your organisation to submit proposals for the review of the RAP/COC. In this process, your organisation may wish to discuss with other organisations in your respective stakeholder groups in order to coordinate the proposals on the RAP/COC. All proposals should be forwarded to MTCC on or before 30 April 2004 to enable MTCC to collate and compile the proposals. The draft document incorporating the proposed amendments will then be circulated to all stakeholder groups prior to the national consultation. Proposals can be sent by post, fax (No. 03-9200 6008) or e-mail (mtcc@tm.net.my) for the attention of Mr. Ismail Ibrahim. Please contact MTCC if further clarification is needed. PRESS
RELEASE, 17 February 2004 MTCC'S RESPONSE TO GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL'S LEAFLET DATED JANUARY 2004 The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) notes with regret that Greenpeace International has chosen the occasion of the 7th Meeting of the Conference of Parties on Biological Diversity (COP7) to continue its attempts to dismiss the serious and substantive efforts of the stakeholder groups involved in the various consultations related to the implementation of timber certification in Malaysia, by denouncing the MTCC as "sustainable certification imposters". MTCC, as the organisation which has coordinated and served as the secretariat for the consultations, wishes to provide the following information and clarification in response to Greenpeace International's leaflet: Standard Setting Process Since MTCC started its operation in 1999, it has facilitated and coordinated two nation-wide consultations, which served as the standard-setting processes for the purpose of developing forest management standards to be used in its certification scheme. The first consultation in 1999 used the Criteria and Indicators of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) as the framework for the forest management standard, while the second consultation in 2002 used the Principles and Criteria (P&C) of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as the framework. The first national-level consultation held in October 1999 was attended by a total of 111 participants from 58 organisations representing the various stakeholder groups. The social and environmental NGOs cited by Greenpeace International participated in this consultation where they indicated that while in principle they fully support the concept and implementation of certification, they nevertheless raised some issues and concerns related to certification. The stakeholder representatives present agreed that some of these issues were related to the prevailing state laws and therefore were beyond MTCC's area of responsibility. The second consultation process took place under the multi-stakeholder National Steering Committee (NSC) which was formed in early 2001 following an FSC-MTCC workshop of forest certification in December 2000. However the same group of social and environmental NGOs withdrew from the NSC-led process in July 2001, even before the NSC could start any substantive discussions. The reason for their withdrawal was that they were not satisfied with MTCC's response to certain "demands" they had made, despite MTCC's explanation that it was not in a position to satisfy these "demands" because (i) some of these "demands" required amendments to the state laws; and (ii) while the other "demands" could be included in the certification standard, nevertheless the extent and manner of their inclusion should be the subject of discussions and negotiations with the other stakeholder representatives as part of the NSC process. The consultations under the NSC process culminated in the national-level meeting in October 2002 which was attended by 113 participants representing 71 organisations (including 22 environmental and social NGOs). MTCC wishes to stress that despite their withdrawal from the NSC process, the door was kept open to these NGOs, who were kept informed of the progress of the NSC's work and were also invited to the regional as well as national-level consultations. Forest Management Standard As a result of the standard-setting processes outlined above, two forest management standards have been developed and adopted by consensus. The first consultation process resulted in the ITTO-based standard entitled Malaysian Criteria, Indicators, Activities and Standards of Performance for Forest Management Certification while the P&C-based standard adopted following the second consultation is entitled Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification. The second standard is currently undergoing field tests in the three regions of Malaysia i.e. Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. In connection with this standard, it is disconcerting to note that Greenpeace International has criticised the Indicators and Verifiers which have been adopted by the Malaysian stakeholders during the October 2002 consultation. It is to be noted that the detailed requirements in the forest management standard in any certification scheme are to be determined through consultations by the local stakeholders who are most familiar with the conditions within the region or country concerned. In criticising the standard, is Greenpeace International trying to usurp the role of the Malaysian stakeholders or trying to impose its views on them? Implementation of MTCC Timber Certification Scheme The MTCC certification scheme is being implemented using a phased approach. The standard currently used for assessing Forest Management Units (FMUs) is based on the first standard mentioned above. However MTCC is using a subset of the Indicators agreed, corresponding to that used in the cooperation programme in timber certification between Malaysia and The Netherlands, in line with the phased approach and in order to ensure a smooth transition to the MTCC scheme. For the next phase of its scheme, MTCC will use the standard developed during the second consultation, once it has been further refined to take into account the results of the field tests now being undertaken. MTCC has set a target date of January 2005 for the use of the second standard. MTCC wishes to point out that the use of a phased approach in the implementation of timber certification has been recognised as a practical way to assist forest managers to make progress towards sustainable forest management and its certification, especially for tropical forests. As Greenpeace International must be aware, the management of tropical forests is much more complex compared to temperate and boreal forests, especially when tropical forest countries are also developing countries. Conclusion Malaysia has just embarked on its efforts to implement timber certification and welcomes constructive criticism that will contribute towards the further improvement of our timber certification scheme. The standards and procedures used by MTCC will be subject to continuous improvements, with sufficient time being given to the forest managers and other affected parties to adjust to these changes. Greenpeace International can play a very constructive role in helping developing tropical forest countries to achieve sustainable management of their precious forest resources for example, by ensuring that the FSC scheme has the flexibility to accommodate local conditions in these countries. Otherwise the present situation where tropical forests only comprise a small percentage of the total area of certified forests throughout the world, will continue, despite our best efforts. MTCC wishes to reiterate its commitment to continue working closely with all stakeholder groups in Malaysia in the implementation and continuous improvement of its certification scheme, in order to achieve our common objective of ensuring the sustainable management of the forest resources in Malaysia. MTCC therefore welcomes any contribution that Greenpeace International can make towards these efforts and objectives.
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