Application for Membership in Mou
Member / Application Summary Report / IAF–MM–03-003
Page 2 of 5
MOU MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION
Name of Organisation: Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes
Contact Person: Ben Gunneberg
Secretary General
Contact Details:
PEFCS asbl
2eme étage,
17 Rue des Girondins,
L-1626 Hollerich, Luxembourg
Phone +352 26 25 90 59
FAX +352 26 25 92 58
Web site www.pefc.org
Documents Received (date) 23.04.2003
Category of Membership: Association Member (Industry Category)
Membership Application Fee – received by Treasurer 24 April 2003
Findings -
That the PEFCS complies with the requirements for Membership in IAF for the category indicated.
John Owen
Corporate Secretary, IAF
Evaluation of Application -
Y = Acceptable, N = not acceptable, O = Observation, M = More information needed, I = not relevant
All Applicants for Membership
Criteria (from IAF–PL–01-009) / Result / Comment /a) the applicant has an acceptance or equivalent standing within an economy, region or internationally, / Y / World wide association of bodies for national or sub-national forest certification
b) the structures and activities of the applicant support IAF's objective of working together on a worldwide basis to achieve common trade facilitation objectives, / Y
c) the applicant's programs and their application are compatible or in accordance with IAF endorsed International Standards or Application Guidance approved by IAF, / Y / All forest certification schemes endorsed or recognised by PEFCS must be compatible with ISO Guides 62, 65 or 66, as applicable
d) the programs the applicant offers internationally are available for operation by any other IAF Accreditation Body Member. / Y / Accreditation of CBs operating PEFCS forest and/or chain of custody certification is available to all IAF AB Members
Economy of Operations / International
Field of coverage / forest management and chain of custody certification
Supplementary Information –
PEFCS is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, which promotes the independent third party certification, of environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.
This is achieved through nationally or regionally multi stakeholder developed, independent third party forest certification schemes, based on the criteria, indicators and operational level guidelines developed by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe or other similar intergovernmental processes promoting sustainable forest management which grew out of the United Nations Conference on the Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
PEFCS provides a framework and umbrella for the mutual recognition of independent, national forest certification schemes so developed. PEFCS is the largest certification system in the world with over 46 million hectares and the area is increasing. It provides a logo for timber products from such schemes, allowing customers and the general public to make a choice for sustainable forest management.
Activities of the Association in relation to IAF programs -
- to promote Sustainable Forest Management through the implementation of PEFCS
- to act as governing body of the PEFC scheme
- to co-ordinate and to further develop the implementation of the PEFC Scheme as a credible forest certification scheme
- to assess the conformity of participating certification schemes with the requirements of the PEFC Scheme
The PEFCS Council members (PEFC National Governing Bodies) are independent multi-stakeholder organizations which represent national or sub-national forest certification schemes and are responsible for:
- development or co-ordination of national or sub-national forest schemes and their revision,
- promotion and education concerning national or sub-national forest certification schemes
- administration of ownership rights of the PEFCS Logo in the relevant countries.
The PEFCS Council requires from the national or sub-national forest certification schemes that forest and chain of custody of wood certification must be carried out by certification bodies accredited by national accreditation bodies which are a part of the IAF umbrella and implement procedures described in ISO Guide 61 and other documents recognised by the above organizations.
Accreditation Bodies - NA
Criteria / Result / Comment /1. Declarations -
a) Now operate in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 61
b) Intends to operate in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 61, IAF Guidance and accreditation policy adopted by the IAF Plenary
c) Intends to seek membership of the IAF MLA and to subject itself to peer evaluation by IAF
d) Intends to recognise accreditations granted by other members of the IAF MLA as equivalent in all respects to its own accreditations, in all accreditation programs it operates
2. Objective Evidence -
a) copies of the Quality Manual and accreditation procedures received
b) provides accreditation services relating to certification of management systems, products, personnel, or similar programs
c) is a legal entity (ISO/IEC Guide 61 2.1.2d)
d) has a documented structure which safeguards impartiality; the structure shall enable participation of all parties significantly concerned (ISO/IEC Guide 61 2.1.2 e)
e) has policies and procedures that distinguish between accreditation and any other activity in which the accreditation body is engaged (ISO/IEC Guide 61 2.1.2.L)
f) ensures that activities of related bodies do not affect the confidentiality or impartiality of its accreditations and shall not offer or provide, directly or indirectly:
1. those services that its accredits others to perform
2. consulting services to obtain or maintain accreditation
3. services to design, implement or maintain a certification scheme (ISO/IEC Guide 61 2.1.2.o)
Supplementary Information –
Accreditation Programs - NA
Program Type
Date Program Started / Plan to Start
Number of Accreditations Issued
List of Documents Received –
Application for IAF Membership
PEFC Council Statutes
PEFC Council Technical Documentation
PEFC Council Brochures
PEFCC_Appln_Check.doc Printed 29 December, 2003