Supplementary memorandum from Greenpeace
Question 178: Colin Challen referring to the ability
of the Malaysian certification scheme, MTCC, to deliver proof
of legal and sustainable forest management.
In addition to the oral evidence submitted,
I would like to also have the following points recorded.
Greenpeace believe that the scheme is also lacking
credibility as a certifier of legal and environmentally responsible
forest management as the procedures of certification do not ensure
products are legal as the scheme allows for 30% of the product
content to come from uncertified sources. As there are no credible
checks on the origin of this uncertified material, illegal timber
can enter the chain of custody and can be sold as MTCC certified.
There are also no requirements to ensure independent verification
of the chain of custody of MTCC timber exported to the UK, Europe
or elsewhere. The MTCC also fails to address indigenous people's
land rights, contrary to international treaties and standards.
These, very serious concerns will persist as
the anticipated review of the new rules, to be phased in during
2006, will still not require an effective chain of custody from
stump to saw mill, or third party checks on the origin of uncertified
timber.
November 2005
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