Congo Basin Sub-Regional Standard consultation launched

The Congo Basin Sub-Regional Standards Development Group is a chamber balanced Working Group with representatives from each country, plus four regional representatives.

The Congo Basin Sub-Regional Standard covers Cameroon, Republic of Congo, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. It forms a harmonizing framework for the national standards for each of these countries, giving a set of indicators with the aim that these can be applicable across the region in the short term, replacing the five certification body Generic Standards which are currently in use. 

The consultation process is focused on identifying significant differences at a national level so that any indicators can be adapted accordingly. Once approved, the regional standard can be used in place of the FSC accredited certification bodies' standards and further work may be conducted at a national level on national indicators and interpretation materials.

The Draft Congo Basin Sub-Regional Standard is available online, along with the workplan which sets out the process of development of the standard.

Each country involved in the process is also producing a national version of the standard with the addition of annexes of relevant national laws, lists of endangered species and other information which the FSC National Initiative is able to add at this stage in the process. These will also be available from the FSC website to download shortly. FSC endorsed National Initiatives may also be contacted directly; details may be found at www.fsc.org/africa.html

Normally each consultation period for standards is 60 days, but in this case a period of 90 days will be given. This will allow time for the national adaptations to be added. The consultation ends on 8 February 2010. 

Please email all consultation responses or enquires to Richard Robertson, FSC Forest Standards Advisor.

Congo Basin Sub-Regional Standard Draft

Proposal and workplan to meet process requirements

Back