PEFC INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PEFC ST 1001:200x

Requirements for certification schemes (ED 1.0)

Enquiry draft, version 1

2010-04-06

Standard setting – requirements

PEFC Council

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 © PEFC Council 2010

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© PEFC Council 2010
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English version is decisive.

Document name: Standard setting - Requirements

Document title: PEFC ST 1001:200x, enquiry draft, version 1.0
Approved by: Date: 2010-04-06
Issue date:
Application date:
Transition date:

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Content
1 Scope ................................................................................................................................. 6
2 Normative references ........................................................................................................ 6
3 Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................................ 6
4 Standardising body ............................................................................................................ 7
5 Standard setting process ................................................................................................... 8
6 Revision of standards / normative documents ................................................................ 10
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 10

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Foreword
PEFC Council (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is a
worldwide organisation promoting sustainable forest management through forest certification
and labelling of forest based products. Products with PEFC claim and / or label deliver
confidence that raw material originates in sustainably managed forest.
PEFC Council provides endorsement of national forest certification schemes which are
required to comply with PEFC Council requirements subject to regular evaluations.
This document has been developed in an open, transparent, consultative and consensus
based process covering a broad range of stakeholders.
This document cancels and replaces Annex 2 of PEFC Council Technical Document
(Standard setting procedures) and GL 5/2006 (Interpretation of PEFC Council Requirements
for Consensus in the Standard Setting Process).

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Introduction
PEFC Council endorses national forest certification schemes for sustainable forest
management. Forest conditions, their ecological, social, economical, and historical aspects
vary amongst different regions and countries. PEFC Council reflects this fact though
incorporating national forest certification schemes and standards which are suitable to local
situations.
Sustainable forest management is a holistic approach taking into account ecological, social
and economic aspects. Participation of local and national interested parties, which are
affected by forest management; in an open, transparent and consensus based process, is an
essential element in the development of a forest certification scheme and definition of
sustainable forest management.
The document is based on ISO/IEC Guide 59. In addition, ISEAL Code of Good Practice for
Setting Social and Environmental Standards was taken into consideration.

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1 Scope

This document covers the requirements for a standardising body for the development and
revision of forest management and scheme specific chain of custody standards.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For both dated and undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendment) applies.
ISO/IEC Guide 59:1994, Code of good practice for standardisation
ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996, Standardisation and related activities – General vocabulary

3 Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996
apply.

3.1 Consensus

General agreement, characterised by the absence of sustained opposition to substantial

issues by any important part of the concerned interest and by a process that involves seeking
to take into account the views of all parties concerned and to reconcile any conflicting
arguments.

Note: Consensus need not imply unanimity (ISO Guide 2)

3.2 Enquiry draft

Proposed document that is available for public consultation.

3.3 Final draft

Proposed document that is available for formal approval.

3.4 Normative document

Document that provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results.
Note 1: The term “normative document” is a generic term that covers such documents as standards,
technical specifications, codes of practice and regulations.
Note 2: A “document” is to be understood as any medium with information recorded on or in it.
Note 3: The terms for different kinds of normative documents are defined considering the document and
its content as a single entity (ISO/IEC Guide 2)

3.5 Revision

Introduction of all necessary changes to the substance and presentation of a normative

document.
Note: The results of revision are presented by issuing a new edition of the normative document
(ISO/IEC Guide 2).

3.6 Review

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Activity of checking a normative document to determine whether it is to be reaffirmed,

changed or withdrawn.

3.7 Standard

Document, established by consensus and approved by a recognised body that provides, for
common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results,
aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree or order in a given context.
Note: Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience,
and aimed at the promotion of optimum benefits (ISO/IEC Guide 2)

3.8 Standardising body

Body that has recognised activities in standardisation (ISO Guide 2)

Note: Standardising body for forest management scheme / standard is a body which is responsible for
the development and maintenance of standards of the forest certification scheme. The standardising
body can be a PEFC national governing body or the standardising body can be separated from the
governance of the forest certification scheme.

3.9 Working draft

Proposed document that is available generally for comments or voting within the working
group / committee.

4 Standardising body

4.1 The standardising body shall have written procedures for standard setting activities
describing:
a) its status and structure, including a body responsible for consensus building (see 4.4) and
for formal adoption of the standard (see 5.10),
b) record keeping,
c) procedures for balanced representation of stakeholders,
d) standard setting process,
e) mechanism for reaching consensus, and
Note: Where a vote is used as a part of decision making procedures, the standard setting procedures
include decision making threshold(s) that is considered to achieve the consensus and that are
consistent with the consensus.
f) revision of standards / normative documents.
4.2 The standardising body shall make its standard setting procedures publicly available
and shall conduct their regular review, including consideration of comments from interested
parties.
4.3 The standardising body shall keep records relating to the standard setting process
providing evidence of compliance with the requirements of this document and the
standardising body’s own procedures. The records shall be kept for a minimum of five years
and shall be available to interested parties upon request.
4.4 The standardising body shall establish a permanent or temporary working group /
committee responsible for standardising work. The working group / committee shall:
a) be accessible to materially and directly affected interested persons and organisations,
b) have balanced representation and decision making of stakeholder categories relevant to
the subject matter and geographical scope of the standard where single concerned interests
shall not dominate nor be dominated in the process, and

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c) include interested persons and organisations with an expertise relevant to the subject
matter of the standard, those that are materially affected by the standard and those that can
influence the implementation of the standard. The materially affected persons and
organisations shall represent a meaningful segment of the participants.
4.5 The standardising body shall establish procedures for dealing with any substantive
and procedural complaints relating to the standardising activities which are accessible to
interested parties. Upon receipt of the complaint, the standard setting body shall:
a) acknowledge the complaint to the complainant,
b) gather and verify all necessary information to validate, impartially and objectively evaluate
and make decision upon the complaint, and
c) formally communicate the decision on the compliant and of the complaint handling process
to the complainant.
4.6 The standardising body shall establish at least one contact point for enquiries and
complaints relating to its standard setting activities. The contact point shall be made easily
available.

5 Standard setting process

5.1 The standardising body shall identify interested persons and organisations that are
relevant to the objectives and scope of the standard setting work.
Note: A stakeholder mapping exercise that includes defining which interest sectors are relevant and
why, and, for each sector, what are likely to be the key issues, who are the key stakeholders, and what
means of communication will best reach them; is a recognised means of meeting the requirement.
5.2 The standardising body shall identify those interested persons and organisations who
might be financially or otherwise disadvantaged in participation in the standard setting work or
whose participation is critical for the results of the standard setting work, here in after
“disadvantaged and key persons and organisations”. The standardising body shall address
the constraints of their participation and proactively seek their participation and contribution.
5.3 The standardising body shall make a public announcement of the start of the
standard setting process and invitation for participation in a timely manner on its website and
in suitable media as appropriate to afford interested persons and organisations an opportunity
for meaningful contributions. The announcement and invitation shall include:
a) information about the objectives, scope and the steps of the standard setting process and
its timetable,
b) information about opportunities of interested persons and interested parties to participate in
the process,
c) an invitation to interested persons and organisations to nominate their representative to the
working group/committee. The invitation to disadvantaged and key persons and organisations
shall be made by a means ensuring that the information reaches its recipient and is
understandable,
d) an invitation to comment on the scope and the standard setting process
e) reference to publicly available standard setting procedures.
5.4 The standardising body shall review the standard setting process based on
comments received from the public announcement and establish a working group / committee
or adjust the composition of an already existing working group / committee based on received
nominations. The acceptance and refusal of nominations shall be justifiable in relation to the
requirements for balanced representation of the working group / committee and resources
available for the standard setting.
5.5 The work of the working group/ committee shall be organised in an open and
transparent manner:
a) working drafts shall be available to all members of the working group / committee,

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b) all members of the working group shall be provided with meaningful opportunities to
contribute to the development or revision of the standard and submit comments to the
working drafts, and
c) comments and views submitted by any member of the working group / committee shall be
considered in an open and transparent way and their resolution and proposed changes shall
be recorded.
5.6 The decision of the working group to recommend the final draft for formal approval
shall be taken on the basis of a consensus. In order to reach a consensus the working group /
committee can utilise the following alternative processes to establish whether there is
opposition:
a) a face-to face meeting where there is a verbal yes/no vote, show of hands for a yes/no
vote; a statement on consensus from the Chair where there are no dissenting voices or
hands (votes); a formal balloting process, etc.,
b) a telephone conference meeting where there is a verbal yes/no vote,
c) an e-mail meeting where a request for agreement or objection is provided to members
and the members providing a written response (a proxy for a vote), or
d) combinations thereof.
5.7 In the case of a negative vote which represents sustained opposition of any important
part of the concerned interests to a substantive issue, the issue shall be resolved using the
following mechanism:
a) discussion and negotiation on the disputed issue within the working group / committee in
order to find a compromise,
b) direct negotiation between the stakeholder(s) submitting the objection and stakeholders
with different views on the disputed issue in order to find a compromise,
c) dispute resolution process.
5.8 The standard setting body shall organise a public consultation on the enquiry draft
and shall ensure that:
a) the start and the end of the public consultation is announced in a timely manner in
suitable media,
b) the invitation of disadvantaged and key interested persons and organisations shall be
made by a means ensuring that the information reaches its recipient and is
understandable,
c) the enquiry draft is publicly available and accessible,
d) the public consultation is at least 60 days,
e) all received comments are considered by the working group/committee in an objective
manner,
f) a synopsis of received comments compiled by material issue, including results of their
consideration, is sent to all parties that submitted comments and is publicly available.
5.9 The standardising organisation shall prepare and make publicly available a standard
setting report describing the standard setting process and its compliance with the standard
setting procedures.
5.10 The standardising body shall formally approve the standards / normative documents
based on evidence of consensus reached by the working group / committee.
5.11 The formally approved standards/normative documents shall be published in a timely
manner and made publicly available.

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6 Revision of standards / normative documents

6.1 The standards / normative documents shall be reviewed and revised at intervals that
do not exceed a five years period. The procedures for the revision of the standards /
normative documents shall follow chapter 5.
6.2 The revision shall define the application date and transition date of the revised
standards / normative documents.
6.3 The application date shall not exceed a period of one year from the publication of the
standard. This is needed for the endorsement of the revised standards / normative
documents, introducing the changes, information dissemination and training.
6.4 The transition date shall not exceed a period of one year except in justified
exceptional circumstances where the implementation of the revised standards / normative
documents require a longer period.

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Biblioggraphy
ISEAL, ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards, P005
– version 5.0 – January, 2010

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