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
Annex 2. Report on the Field Visit
A Field Visit was undertaken by Dr Bob Smith from 23 to 27 August 2010, with the purpose of
gaining additional information to support the conformity assessment of the UFCS against the
requirements of PEFCC.
Detailed below are the results of meetings with various groups involved in the development and
approval of the UFCS.
1) Meeting with PEFC Uruguay
Attendees:
Mr Gerardo Barrios (President)
Mr Civil Alvaro Molinari (Vice President)
Mr Oscar Regueira
Dr Ricardo Methol
Mr Edgardo Cardozo (Society of Forestry Producers)
Ms Andrea Regusci (Society of Forestry Producers)
Discussions:
The meeting covered the following issues:
i) Explanation of the importance of PEFC recognition of the UFCS, specifically in regard to
maintaining market access (in particular, markets in the USA and Europe).
ii)
The evolution and processes followed in the formation of PEFC Uruguay, and the goal of
aligning the UFCS with requirements of PEFCC.
iii) The development and co-ordination of forest management standards (UNIT 1151:2009
and UNIT 1152: 2009) by Specialized Technical Committee for Sustainable Forest
Management (STC-SFM) which operated consistent with requirements of UNIT. The STC-
SFM operated independently from PEFC Uruguay.
iv)
Clarification of issues raised in Interim Report on the conformity of the UFCS against
PEFCC requirements.
v) Levels of participation by diversity of groups in development of forest management
standards (UNIT 1151:2009 and UNIT 1152:2009). Consensus that wide diversity of groups
representing government (forestry and environment departments), academia, industry,
social/environmental issues and unions participated. PEFC Uruguay noted that, although
invited, no environmental NGO participated in development of Standard. PEFC Uruguay
noted that peak environmental NGO in Uruguay, Group GUAYUBIRA
(www.guayubira.org.uy) has a national initiative against establishment of monoculture
plantations in Uruguay.
vi)
PEFC Uruguay considers the UFCS to be a challenge to implement. The implementation of
the UFCS will lead to significant gains in the economic, social and environmental
outcomes sought from plantation forests in Uruguay.
2) Meeting with Instituto Uruguayo de Normas Técnicas (UNIT)
Attendee: Mr Ferdando Gomez (Executive Director Norms)
Discussion:
The meeting covered the following issues:
i) The history of UNIT in developing and approving technical standards in Uruguay.
ii) The processes UNIT follows (methodology) in developing standards focusing on the role of
specialized technical committees.
iii) The evolution of development and approval of forest management standards commencing
with UNIT approval of Project “Access to markets and the integration through technical
normalization” and approval of UNIT 1151: 2009 and UNIT 1152: 2009 by UNIT’s General
Committee of Norms on 14 December 2009.
iv) Explanation of the UNIT statutes and associated documentation for impartial handling of
disputes and complaints associated with standard setting processes.
v) Review of a sample of minutes (relating to meeting of STC-SFM between 2006 and 2009).
www.itsglobal.net Page 48