Defra has received your views and comments on the inclusion of social criteria in the application of the UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy. You were invited to submit your views on the potential inclusion of social criteria in general, and on the social criteria which have been proposed more specifically.

In the application of its timber procurement policy, through its definition of legal and sustainable timber the Government has previously interpreted the EU public procurement directives as not permitting Contracting Authorities to include the social criteria that are integral to some internationally agreed definitions of sustainable forest management.

However, exclusion of social criteria could be seen as inconsistent with relevant international conventions and is out of step with all other EU member states that have timber procurement policies.

It is now  proposed that social criteria based on the following aspects are suitable for inclusion in public sector contract requirements:

(1) clarification, recognition and respect of legal, customary and traditional rights related to the forest;

(2) mechanisms for dispute resolution between timber production operators logging in the forest and local people;

(3) freedom of workers to organise and negotiate.

The Definition of legal and sustainable for timber procurement is going to be reviewed and amended in the second half of 2009. This will subsequently provide the basis for associated amendments to the related criteria for evaluating certification schemes and category B evidence

A copy of the responses will be made available on request in the Defra library at Ergon House, London. A summary of all responses will also be available on Defra’s website here. 

For further details on the consultation procedure and request for documents please refer to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/timber-procurement/

 Reference documents:

•  Letter to consultees
•  List of consultees
•  Proposed inclusion of social criteria in the application of the UK    Government’s Timber Procurement Policy       

This consultation is in line with the Code of practice on Consultations. This can be found at www.berr.gov.uk/bre/