Category B workshop

Evidence of legality and sustainability, as required by the UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy, can be provided via two types of evidence; either certification schemes - Category A, or alternative forms of evidence - Category B.

CPET is pleased to announce a workshop, arranged in cooperation with the UK Timber Trade Federation, to help to explore alternative forms of evidence for suppliers who for one reason or another are not certified. The aim of the workshop is to make it clearer to suppliers and buyers what it requires to provide category B evidence when ensuring compliance with the policy. 

Three cases of alternative category B evidence will be presented at the workshop, all which require full traceability and assurance of legality and sustainability at the forest source. The cases are likely to include the following, 1) supply from a small forest in the UK, 2) hardwood supply from the US and 3) supply of greenheart from Guyana.

The evidence provided will be discussed by a panel consisting of CPET, Defra, Reference Board and other relevant stakeholders. The panel will review the evidence provided and, based on a risk assessment, provide clarification on the extent to which it delivers full traceability and assurance at the forest source.

The findings from the cases will feed into a review of the guidance on the CPET website, the CPET category B checklists and guidance handbooks.

The workshop has a limited capacity and is therefore by invitation only and will be held in London on January 25th 2011. Please contact CPET for further information.