Summary of the verification scheme
Name of the system

SGEC(Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council)

Related Area
Overview ofverification

All over Japan
Party responsible for issuing verification
Name: SGEC
Location: National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization, 2F, 2-7-5 Hirakawacho,
Chiyodaku, Tokyo 102-0093, Japan
Communication: e-mail: info@sgec-eco.org
TEL: 03-5276-3311 FAX: 03-5276-3312
Outline of issuing process
Application for verification submitted to the certification body (At moment, there are threecertification bodies) – Inspection by the certification body (document/on-site) – Inspection
Committee within the certification body – Inspection report submitted – SGEC Auditing
Committee – Issuance of Certificate
The system shall verify legality and sustainability.
Definition of legality
To be logged legally in accordance with the forest-related laws.
Relevant laws
(Example) Relevant to the Forest Law – Municipal Forest Plans System and AdvanceNotification System on Intended Logging, Change Order System on Logging Plan/Operation
Advisory System, Adjacent Land Development Permit System, Protection Forest System,
Protective Facility District System
Details of presumed illegal activities
Violation of the above relevant laws
Documents to verify legality, procedure of their retention/verification
Documents; Forest certification inspection report, Forest certificate, Certified forest products
handling certificate
Retention/verification; Retained by the SGEC Secretariat.
Scheme implemented by the third party, administrative authority, etc. to ensure
reliability
Details of the examination are disclosed to the public.
Certification bodies carry out management/certification once a year.
Definition of sustainability
To be produced from a forest under sustainable forest management.
Documents to verify sustainability, procedure of their retention/verification
Documents; Forest certification inspection report, Forest certificate, Certified forest products
handling certificate
Retention/verification; Retained by the SGEC Secretariat.
Scheme implemented by the third party, administrative authority, etc. to ensure
reliability
Details of the examination are disclosed to the public.
Certification bodies carry out management/certification once a year.
Real picture of the dealings, from logging to export
Timber logged from forests with the SGEC certification are separated and labeled for trading
during all the manufacturing processes.
Procedure for ensuring separative custody management
Conforming to the SGEC certified forest products distribution system. Under this systemforest products from SGEC certified forests are separated and labeled for management
during the manufacturing and distribution processes,.
Scheme implemented by the third party, administrative authority, etc. to ensure
reliability.
Details of the examination are disclosed to the public.
Certification bodies carry out management/certification once a year.
Criticisms against the system and recognition of problems
Criticized as lacking international recognition due to the short time after establishment.

Scheme to check
legality at the time oflogging

Scheme to check forsustainabilityScheme of separative
custody management

Future Task andPerspectives

Reference Author

Remediation procecure
To endeavor to promote information exchange with international certification systems.
To participate in preparation of international and objective evaluation standards.
To proactively ask for evaluation based on the international evaluation standards forcertification.
Future perspectives
In three years since establishment in June 2003, the area certified under SGEC has reached
330 thousand hectares. This indicates an interest in using domestic timber and, also, antrust in legal timber. We will make efforts to contribute to world-wide promotion of use oflegal timber.
Web site
URL:http://www.sgec-eco.org/
Contact: Kiyoo Nakagawa
Name, title, division: Secretariat, SGEC (Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council)
E-mail: info@sgec-eco.org