BNQ 3100-910/2009

1 PURPOSE The purpose of this protocol is intended to establish certification program requirements for the chain of custody of forest-based products according to the requirements of either the SFI or PEFC chain of custody standards. Certification of the chain of custody of forest-based products according to these standards will then allow access to a labelling system for targeted SFM programs (SFI or PEFC). However, the producer holding a BNQ certificate of conformity for a chain of custody shall obtain official authorization from competent authorities of the SFI or PEFC programs in order to use their respective product labels. This certification program is for producers seeking to have their chains of custody of forest-based products certified by the BNQ. 2 SCOPE 2.1 SCOPE OF A CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR A PRODUCTION SITE For the producer wanting to include one production site only (plant with one or more buildings grouped together on the same piece of land and at the same address where raw material is transformed into products) for certification, the scope of the chain of custody of forest-based products begins with the producer’s raw material suppliers and ends with the shipment of certified products to clients. The following situations may arise. - If the producer’s raw material has already been subjected to a first or second transformation, the producer shall obtain proof of origin of the raw material from suppliers so that forest-based products derived thereafter can be certifiable. - Clients of the producer are not necessarily end consumers, but may also be other producers who will proceed with subsequent transformations of already certified forest-based products. It will be up to these clients to maintain certification of the chain of custody right up to consumers. From the forest to consumers, each producer involved has the burden of proof of origin or custody from the moment the producer gains control of the raw material (from the forest or from a supplier) until the moment the producer’s certified products are delivered to clients, whether or not they are other producers or end consumers. 2.2 SCOPE OF A CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR A MULTI-SITE ORGANIZATION The producer (or group of producers) wanting to certify a multi-site chain of custody shall meet the eligibility criteria that are specified in the SFI and PEFC chain of custody standards. Essentially, all requirements relative to the management of a multi-site chain of custody shall be controlled by a central office having all necessary authority to direct the destiny and the implementation of the chain of custody in the production sites involved. These production sites may include more than one forest and more than one primary and secondary transformation plant that may be integrated horizontally or vertically. In some cases, the scope of a producer’s certification may be expanded to encompass multi-site certification that includes main suppliers to ensure certified supply at all times. Consequently, all production sites grouped in the same chain of custody of forest-based products and certified under the same standard will bear the same chain of custody number (see Clause 7.2 for more information of the chain of custody number of forest-based products). Chain of custody standards of forest-based products relate to different kinds of groups of producers that may be eligible for multi-site certification. Clause 6.2.1.2 and Clause 6.2.1.3 of this certification protocol stipulate particular eligibility conditions applying to BNQ certification. 2.3 SELECTION OF STANDARDS, PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT LABELS It is up to the producer (or group of producers) to choose the standard under which the producer wishes to certify a chain of custody. However, the BNQ can offer necessary support to producers in their choice of standard and optimal type of certification. The most determining aspects of the choice of standard are: - Main customer requirements in terms of preference of standard and labelling system (SFI or PEFC); - SFM programs already implemented in forest areas that the producer (or group of producers) owns or controls; - SFM programs already implemented in forest areas of the producer’s (or group of producers’) main suppliers; - Geographic location of the producer (or group of producers), the producer’s clients, suppliers and all forest areas concerned by the supply system or systems and the chain of custody to be certified. Once the producer has selected the standard, the producer shall then select targeted forest-based products and the types of labels sought. Client requirements and supplier flexibility will affect this choice.