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SFI Standard Development Process

Current SFI 2005-2009 Standard Preview Process

The second public comment period, which was an on-line survey of the draft SFI 2010-2014 SFI Standard closed on March 2, 2009. Over 2000 individuals received invitations to participate in the comment period. This draft of the 2010-2014 Standard was based on the comments received during the summer 2008 60-day open, public comment period. To see a summary of the comments received during the 2009 comment period, click here.

The 2009 comment period is supplemented by 7 regional workshops. All comments received via the online survey and at the workshops will be used to create the final draft of the SFI 2010-2014 Standard, which takes effect January 1, 2010. You can read the reports from the workshops by clicking on the reports:

February 18 – Sacramento, California   download report
February 19 – Vancouver, British Columbia   download report
March 3 - Minneapolis, Minnesota   download report
March 26 – Charleston, South Carolina   download report
April 2 - Little Rock, Arkansas   download report
April 7 – Portland, Maine   download report
April 16 - Montreal, Quebec   download report

You can also view the presentation on the changes to the SFI Standard here.

 

Background on the SFI Standard Revisions Process

SFI Inc. completes a review of its standard and supporting documents every five years, which is consistent with international protocols for forest certification standard revision cycles. The third public review, which will lead to the SFI 2010-2014 certification standard and supporting documents, is currently underway.

An SFI Standards Review task group, with balanced representation from environmental, social and economic sectors, will draft the 2010-2014 Standard. SFI board members must approve it by fall 2009, and it takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010. SFI- certified companies have one year after a new standard is approved to implement all the new requirements, and must demonstrate conformance to the new requirements at their next surveillance audit.

The SFI External Review Panel, an independent panel of experts, ensures that the development and revision of the SFI Standard embodies an open, fair and inclusive process that addresses the ideas forwarded through comments submitted.

Each public review has led to additions to the forest management certification standard.

The 2005-2009 Standard included new provisions to conserve old-growth forests and imperiled/critically imperiled species; to strengthen procurement from jurisdictions outside of North America and supply chain monitoring; and to address invasive exotic species. It also introduced new performance measures and indicators related to the certification of public forestlands, including requirements to confer with affected indigenous peoples.

The 2002-2004 Standard introduced, among other things, measures to protect forests with exceptional conservation value, and provisions to help prevent illegal logging and to promote the conservation of biodiversity hotspots and major tropical wilderness areas.