MALAYSIA: Voluntary Timber Certification Scheme Begins
Copyright 2001
BERNAMA THE MALAYSIAN NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY
December 27, 2001
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Timber Certification Council's (MTCC) voluntary certification scheme uses MC&I or Malaysian Criteria, Indicators, Activities and Standards of Performance for Forest Management Certification (MC&I) under phase one of the scheme.
MC&I has 29 indicators originating from a mutually-agreed standard used under the Malaysia-the Netherlands co-operation programme in timber certification, MTCC said in a statement. The standards to be used for assessing forestry management units (FMU) would take into account the requirements for timber from sustainably managed forests specified by the Keurhout Foundation and the 1998 ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization) Criteria and Indicators.
The Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) compatible standard now being formulated will be used in the second phase.
MTCC has started the operation of the national timber certification scheme and all applications would have to undergo an independent third party assessment before the council can decide to issue certificates.
In conjunction with its operations, Perak, Johor, Kedah and Negri Sembilan had recently been assessed as FMUs to the requirements of the MC&I, MTCC said.
Three states -- Pahang, Selangor and Terengganu -- which are involved in the Malaysia-The Netherlands programme are due for re-assessment by early 2002, together with the assessment of Kelantan.
In Sabah and Sarawak, where the FMUs are mainly managed by companies, some have indicated interest in using MC&I.