Category A

Assessment criteria

The requirements that had been historically set out in the contract conditions and the variant specification were used as the basis for an evaluation of the certification schemes. The most objective and effective way of doing this was through the development and use of criteria which set out in detail how a scheme must be designed and operated in order to deliver Government requirements. 

Certification schemes include four main components:

• the standard,
• the certification process,
• accreditation requirements,
• control of chain of custody and claims.

This is reflected in the recommendations in the original consultants’ report for government, and in the contract conditions. Therefore, the criteria were developed in four corresponding sections.

The contract conditions were carefully analysed and requirements for certification schemes to meet these were drafted as criteria. At the end of this process, 26 criteria had been identified, divided between the sections on the standard, certification process, accreditation, chain of custody and claims.

Once the first draft of the criteria had been prepared, an iterative review process was undertaken. This included inputs from the Government such as Department for International Development (DFID) and the Forestry Commission (FC), the five certification schemes and by a Reference Board which included UK Timber Trade Federation and WWF UK. The comments received were used to finalise the criteria. Almost all comments were fully or partially incorporated with the exception of some suggestions for major modifications. The criteria were then submitted to DEFRA for final confirmation and approval, and were then circulated to the five certification schemes and made publicly available.

In early 2006, a review of the criteria was undertaken in order to clarify the existing criteria. As a result of this consultation process, an updated version of the criteria was published.

A number of social criteria were proposed for inclusion in mid 2009. After a 3 month public consultation period the Technical Panel met and, based on the comments reviewed, developed a final draft of the criteria and guidance to implementation. The CPET Reference Board met and advised Defra that provided a few minor changes are made the criteria can be included. In January 2010 Rt Hn Hilary Benn MP Secretary of State Minister for Environment, food and rural affairs announced the inclusion of social criteria.

The update of the criteria for evaluating category A evidence, also included a general update and two new clarifying guidance criteria on ‘conversion; and ‘national level application’ drafted by the Technical Panel. After a CPET consultation on the proposed new criteria in early 2010 and after having been presented to the Reference Board, the updated Criteria for Evaluating Certification Schemes, (Category A Evidence) Third Edition (April 2010) were published and are available for download, or upon request from CPET.

Results

An initial assessment of certification schemes was undertaken in 2004. The schemes are reviewed bi-annually to ensure they continue to offer assurance of legality and sustainability, and copies of historical documents are available in our Archive.

The methodology was amended in early 2008 and a Technical Panel of 4 experts was convened. The technical review panel members were selected on the basis of their certification expertise and experience, independence from individual certification schemes, and in order to provide external input to the CPET findings. For the 2008 review CPET convened and facilitated a physical meeting of the technical review panel to finalise the results of the reviews for each scheme.

The final results from the technical review panel was discussed with the CPET Reference Board. The outcome of this discussion was reviewed by Defra who made a final decision on the results.

The 2010 review of the certification schemes has been initiated. 

More information on previous and current reviews and consultations are available in the Review & comments section.

The latest review results are available on the Approved Schemes section and the corresponding report and annexes are available in the Documents folder.