COMPLYING TO GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT RULES
SUPPLIERS must now meet Australian standards in order to supply timber and timber-based products to the federal government.
Referenced as part of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, government departments are obligated to meet specific Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) when selecting suppliers for timber and timber-based products.
Among CPRs, government departments must now specify products that meet an available Australian standard; which in the case of timber and timber-based products is AS 4707 – Chain of Custody for Forest Products and AS 4708 – Sustainable Forest Management.
Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries said the Act represented a major commitment by the federal government towards the Australian Standards for Forest Management and Chain of Custody, as well as local businesses that supported the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme (RWCS);
“Now, suppliers that claim through the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme will 100% satisfy the Commonwealth Procurement Rules set by the federal government,” Mr Dorries said.
“Claims through Responsible Wood, or through PEFC – recognised through mutual recognition with Responsible Wood – will also meet the requirements of the federal government for timber and timber-based products.”
Mr Dorries said the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme was the only certification scheme that complied with AS 4707 – Chain of Custody for Forest Products and AS 4708 – Sustainable Forest Management.
“It’s a must,” he said.
Supporting stakeholders, Responsible Wood has developed a Fact Sheet, ‘The Australian Standards and Federal Procurement Rules’ which is readily accessible from the Responsible Wood website.
“The fact sheet is now available for download from our website, we also have a technical document with legal advice which will also be made available for our Responsible Wood members upon request,” Mr Dorries said.
Further information, including a copy of ‘The Australian Standards and Federal Procurement Rules’ is available here.
