As one of five accredited Standards Development Organisations Responsible Wood is subject to regular surveillance audits, ensuring our scheme is independent, credible, trans
parent, and technically competent…
Responsible Wood has passed an audit and ‘check compliance’ with flying colours with development activities meeting all requirements of Standards Australia.
Connecting remotely, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the surveillance audit provides Responsible Wood with an opportunity to demonstrate to Standards Australia the organisations ongoing commitment to standards development. Alan Snow, Responsible Wood’s certification coordinator explains:
“Standards Australia is the owner of the standards and trademarks, and as one of five accredited Standard Development Organisations (SDO) we are licensed to develop Australian standards for forest certification through our ongoing Standards Development and Accreditation Committee (SDAC) accreditation,” Mr Snow said.
As an SDO, Responsible Wood is accredited to develop Australian standards for forest management in addition to Australian standards that support the Australian Forest Certification Scheme.
These standards are used to support Responsible Wood claims on timber or paper-based products recognised and endorsed by PEFC globally.
Connecting remotely, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the surveillance audit provides Responsible Wood with an opportunity to demonstrate to Standards Australia the organisations ongoing commitment to standards development. Alan Snow, Responsible Wood’s certification coordinator explains
Responsible Wood CEO, Simon Dorries, said the Responsible Wood certification scheme’s unique position as an accredited SDO provided consumers of timber and timber-based products with the trust that products have been sourced from a sustainable source.
“But it is the overarching governance structure, the commitment to independence in the certification process, that is of utmost importance.”
“If consumers are looking for a credible forest certification scheme, the Responsible Wood certification scheme ticks all the boxes,” Mr Dorries said.
Responsible Wood is also working towards the revision of AS 4708.
The revision ensures the Standard incorporates the latest knowledge, best practices, and evolving stakeholder expectations.
The new standard will be developed as a fully recognised joint Australia-New Zealand standard accepted by PEFC International and will meet the requirements for a fully-fledged JAS-ANZ accredited sustainable forest management system.
“This is highly unique; the new standard will cover sustainable forest management and will underpin PEFC forest certification in Australia and New Zealand.”
“The new standard will be an endorsed Australian and New Zealand Standard, it can be used for PEFC and / or Responsible Wood claims and it can be used to meet timber legality requirements for import and export,” Mr Dorries said.
In addition, Responsible Wood has turned its attention to the revision of AS4707 Chain of Custody of Forest Products.
Interested stakeholders have been invited to nominate candidates for the AS/NZS 4707 standards reference committee and working groups.
For information about standards development and an overview of Responsible Wood standards, please visit to ‘Our Standards’ at www.responsiblewood.org.au
Caption: Responsible Wood CEO, Simon Dorries, David Syme (SDAC auditor) and Alan Snow, Responsible Wood’s certification coordinator who previously conducted the audit in person in November 2019.
