· Background
· Mutual Recognition
· Development & Process
· Content & Shortcomings
· Launch
· Revision

· The Brussels based Confederation of European Paper Industries
· 15 full and 3 associated members
· Represents through its members Some 1000 pulp, paper and board producing companies across Europe
· Represents the interests of the European pulp, paper and board industry to the EU-Institutions

· Part of the paper & forest cluster - turnover of EUR 400 billion
· CEPI member production 90 million tons of paper & board (28 % of world production)
· Material use - 44 % virgin , 40 % recycled and non-fibrous
· 50 % graphic, 40 %packaging, 10 % hygiene and speciality papers

BACKGROUND:

· 1996: Call for an international umbrella for forest certification
· Need for information & a tool to provide it
· CEPI Position paper providing background on & reasoning for CEPI's information tool
· CEPI launched a process towards an information tool (comparative matrix)

· Why? - Promote & give assurance on SFM - Raise consumer awareness - Secure wood from acceptable sources - Promote forest products - Demonstrates the industry's commitment

· Concerns - Confuse consumers - Create trade barriers - Not deliver the credibility it promises

THE PROLIFERATION OF SYSTEMS

· A number of systems operational or under developed
· Some systems may deliver a similar level of assurance
· Demand for mutual recognition, especially from developing countries
· Mutual recognition allows for a fruitful competition among certification systems

"Mutual recognition is a reciprocal agreement under which one certification system acknowledges and accepts other certification systems as being substantively equivalent in intent, outcomes and process in identified critical elements as performance requirements."

MR is not harmonising or merging of systems!

AIM

· Address concerns about the many similar certification systems
· Provide reliable & unbiased information
· Help facilitating the debate towards mutual recognition of credible systems
· Allow for benchmarking of `certification systems against credibility principles

The comparative matrix as well as CEPI do not provide judgement of different systems!

PROCESS TOWARDS THE MATRIX

· Questionnaire forwarded to governing bodies of 50 certification systems
· Questionnaire issued Spring 1999
· Re-issued in February & July 2000
· Request for supplementary information issued March, July & September 2000
· Information compiled in database

STAKEHOLDER REVIEW

· Comments encouraged throughout the development of the project
· Consultation process initiated September 1999

CREDIBILITY PRINCIPLES

· Serve as criteria for benchmarking of the information reported on systems

EXPERT REVIEW

· Structure of questionnaire and draft matrix reviewed by IIED:

· "Information obtained is accurate & reliable"
· "Information intelligently analysed"
· "Some systems provided inadequate information"
· "Relevant information for credibility obtained"

LAUNCH OF MATRIX

· Re-formulated based on advice from IIED
· First launched April 2000, updated Nov. 2000
· Responses from 2 international & 25 national systems (of which 13 operational)
· Status - Preliminary - based on CEPI analysis (11) - Amended - CEPI analysis& certification body's comments (14) - Confirmed - as above & wider stakeholder comment

CEPI

· Sees the matrix as needed effort
· Acknowledges need to improve the matrix
· Accepts that providing info from certification bodies is not ideal
· Understands the need to fully involve other stakeholder in the process
· Believes the matrix can & should help to facilitate mutual recognition

THE MATRIX

· Continues receiving wide-spread attention and support

- 10.000 paper copies distributed
- 9.500 times downloaded from www.cepi.org

· Methodology adopted by IFIR framework
· Needs to be improved to overcome shortcomings

FROM HERE ON

· Thorough revision of matrix during 2001
· Achieve open & transparent dialogue
· Enable confidence & trust on method
· Consensus building on influence & input of major interest groups towards revision
· Goal: Matrix to be run by independent body