This workshop, part of FSC International’s global outreach on the IGI, aims to bring the IGI process closer to national Standard Development Groups (SDGs) in this region towards the development of respective country IGIs and onwards application of the IGI to national standards.
The workshop was led by the Forest Programme Manager of FSC’s Policy and Standards Unit, Richard Robertson. Also present was the Asia Pacific representative on the IGI Steering Committee as well as national SDG representatives from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The two-day workshop allowed participants to partake in an interactive session on the theoretical and practical application of the IGI. The workshop discussed the IGI–how they have been developed, the process of transfer, integration and eventual roll out of National Standards. Feedback received from the workshop will be used for adaptation and improvement of the IGI.
“The Malaysian SDG welcomes the IGI process. Interpretation of the FSC Principles and Criteria has always been a point of contention amongst all, from stakeholders to auditors and the formulation of the IGI is a clear step towards addressing this important matter”, said Anthony Sebastian, Chair of the Malaysian SDG. Sebastian is also Chairman of the Forest Sustainability Malaysia Sdn Bhd Board of Directors; the body spearheading the development of the Malaysian FSC Standards.
The IGI has been developed as a transition mechanism to phase-in use the newly endorsed FSC Principles and Criteria, in a consistent way across the world, and to strengthen the credibility of the FSC system. The IGI further implements the motion adopted at the FSC General Assembly in 2012 on the need to replace the Certification Body Adapted Standards that are currently being adopted by countries without FSC National Standards.
The first public consultation of the IGI (English version) extends over a 60-day period from 1st March – 30 April 2013.
Following the Asia Pacific IGI Workshop, a separate one-day session for the Malaysian SDG was held. This session provided a valuable opportunity for Malaysian SDG members to deliberate the IGIs with a member of the FSC International staff closely working on the IGIs.
Malaysian SDG members considered several issues within the context of drafting appropriate indicators for national FSC standards in line with the IGI, including on forest conversion.
“The two sessions in Malaysia were very encouraging. The workshop provided a positive platform of engagement with stakeholders in the region and FSC is pleased by the progress that SDGs in the region have made”, said Robertson. “The Malaysian SDG is indeed on the right track; considerations for the indicators and verifiers have been astute and the current draft is in excellent quality”.
The Malaysian FSC Standards drafting began in July 2011. Further details on relevant deliberations are available here.
More information on the FSC IGI process is available at the IGI website.