A presentation by Sarah Price, Head of Projects and Development PEFC International, given at the May 2010 Stakeholder Dialogue held in Geneva, Switzerland.

1. PEFC Standard Setting -
Requirements
PEFC ST 1001:200X (ED 1.0)
Sarah Price
PEFC Council Head of Development
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2. 2 components of the Standard:
1. Standardising Body
2. Standard setting process
Scope: Covers requirement for forest management &
scheme specific chain of custody standards
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3. Basic approach
1. The document is using a process approach
– Example: defines requirements for the standard setting process
from its beginning “identification of need for standard
setting/revision” to “publication of the standard”
2. The document defines “how to manage the
multi-stakeholder process” & set up
parameters of this process.
– Example: does not prescribe “balanced representation of
stakeholders” or specific decision making model.
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4. Requirements for the Standardising Body:
 To identify a body for building consensus (WG/committee) and a
body for formal approval of the Standard;
 To have written standard setting procedures, which are publicly
available;
 To keep records of the standard setting process;
 To have a WG/committee, responsible for the standardisation
work with balanced representation of stakeholders;
 To have procedures for any substantive or procedural
complaints.
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5. Requirements for the Standard Setting Process:
 To proactively identify stakeholders;
 To identify “disadvantaged and key stakeholders” and address
constraints for their participation;
 To publically announce & extend invititations announcing start of
process, opportunities to engage, etc;
 Working Group organized/functions in an open and transparent
manner;
 Working Group agrees requirements & a process for
consensus;
 Requirements for public consultation of draft standard will be
fulfilled;
 Final standard will be formally approved; and published;
 Standards will be revised regularly.
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6. Critical issues
1. Scope
Should the standard setting procedures apply to the development
of forest management and C-o-C standards or the whole scheme?
2. Requirements for balanced representation of
stakeholders
ED requires the WG/committee to be (i) accessible to
stakeholders, (ii) balanced representation and decision making
amongst interest categories, (iii) single interest shall not
dominate nor be dominated, (iv) participation of materially
affected persons.
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7. Critical issues
3. How to incorporate “disadvantaged and key stakeholders”
ED requires the standardisation body to (i) identify interested &
relevant stakeholders, (ii) address constraints and proactively seek
their participation, (iii) direct invitation of those stakeholders to the
process and public consultation.
4. Building consensus and decision making
ED uses the ISO definition of the consensus and requires the
WG/committee to resolve “sustained oppositions to substantial
issues by important part of the concerned interests”.
ED does not define a specific voting model as this is to be
decided by stakeholders at the national level.
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8. Key differences from previous Standard:
 Improved structure following the standard setting
process,
 More attention to:
(i) “disadvantaged and key stakeholders”;
(ii) ensuring balanced representation;
(iii) building consensus; and
(iv) transparency of the standard setting process .
(e.g. public standard setting procedures, invitations, standard
setting report, complaints procedures, etc.)
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