Conformity assessment of UFCS against PEFC (2010).pdf - ITS Global

Evaluation and assessment of Uruguayan Forest Certification scheme against the requirements of the PEFC Council
2. History and Structure of the Uruguayan Forest Certification
Scheme (UFCS)
The development of THE UFCS (a certification scheme for plantation forests) was undertaken in
two parts. The first component was the development – at request of Uruguayan Society of
Forest Producers in 2007 – and approval of forest management standard and chain of custody
standard (CoC) by STC-SFM (Specialised Technical Committee on Sustainable Forest
Management). This component was undertaken between 2007 and 2009, consistent with
processes of Uruguayan Institute of Technical Norms (UNIT).
The second part saw the development of the organisational structures and implementation
processes (including accreditation and certification procedures) for the application of the UFCS
by PEFC Uruguay during 2009.
It is noted that both the certification of forest management standard (covering forest
management and CoC), and organisational processes and implementation procedures were
undertaken with a view to aligning the UFCS procedures and processes with PEFCC
requirements.
2.1 Development of Sustainable Forest Management Standard
The evolution of sustainable forest management standard can be tracked over two phases
between 2006 and 2009.
Phase 1
The first phase commenced in late 2006 when the Uruguayan Institute of Technical Norms
(Instituto Uruguayo de Normas Técnicas, UNIT), at request of Uruguayan Society of Forestry
Producers, committed to developing a sustainable forest management standard for plantations
under the project - “Access to markets and the integration through technical normalization”.
UNIT is the internationally recognised national standardization body responsible for
development of Uruguayan technical standards and guides.
Consistent with their methodologies and internationally recognised processes, UNIT coordinated
the establishment of the Specialized Technical Committee for the Sustainable Forest
Management (STC-SFM) in 2006, with the aim to develop standards for Uruguayan sustainable
forest management and chain of custody. The STC-SFM is the equivalent of standard setting
body in PEFC documentation.
The STC-SFM, as required by UNIT processes, formally requested the participation of 36
individuals and organisations and was constituted with diverse membership including forest
industry, forest growers, academia, technical expert, social interests and environmental
interests (refer to GD05 and www.unit.org.uy).
The STC-SFM - the body solely responsible for the content of forest management standard
(Norm) and operating by consensus (as defined by ISO Guide 2) - utilized the “Conservation of
Temperate and Boreal Forests” (Montreal Process), National (Uruguayan) Code of Good Forest
Practice (2004) and Uruguayan Government forestry policies ratified in 1995, as reference
documents to develop sustainable forest management standard.
The STC-SFM also had the objective of constructing Uruguayan forest management standards in
a format similar to Standard UNE 162002: 2001 (Spanish forest management standard which is
endorsed under the Spanish scheme).
Following their deliberations between 2006 and 2009, the STC-SFM approved the National
(Uruguayan) Norms of Certification for forest management. These Norms included:
• UNIT 1151 (Sustainable Forest Management. Glossary of Terms). This document
specifies the definitions to be applied in Uruguay when applying UNIT 1152 (Sustainable
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