Updated Category B guidance

Following changes in the UK Government timber procurement policy and the release of an updated version of the Timber Procurement Advice Note for July 2010, CPET have updated their Category B Framework and Guidance documents. 

As you may already know the government recognises two types of evidence to show that the timber or wood products are from legal and sustainable sources:
•    Category A evidence: claims based on certification under a certification scheme which delivers government requirements. Criteria for assessing schemes to establish whether they constitute Category A evidence are set out in UK Government Timber Procurement Policy: Criteria for Evaluating Certification Schemes (Category A Evidence).
•    Category B evidence: all other credible evidence that material is from forests which meet the requirements for legality and sustainability.  

The evaluation of Category B evidence is detailed in UK Government Timber Procurement Policy: Framework for Evaluating Category B evidence. The Framework presents three Checklists which suppliers should use when submitting Category B evidence of legal and sustainable evidence for a UK Government supplier. The framework is supported by two guidance documents which relate to:
(1) preparing evidence to demonstrate the forest source was managed in a legal and sustainable manner
(2)  preparing supply chain information to demonstrate that timber supplied originated from a legal and sustainable forest source.

Both the checklists and guidance documents have now been updated to reflect recent updates and additions to the UK government timber procurement policy.

CPET is in cooperation with the UK Timber Trade Federation, Defra and WWF planning a Category B seminar to provide further clarification on Category B evidence. The seminar will be scheduled for October and four cases of Category B evidence will be presented and discussed. CPET is planning to further update and review the Category B guidance documents following the seminar. 
For further information and to download the updated checklists and guidance documents please see the Other evidence section or  find the updated versions in the Documents section. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if you have any questions.