Appendix 2
Summary of the verification scheme
Name of thesystem

Name in home language
Name in English ‒ Canadian legislative and regulatory framework

Related AreaGeneral
overview ofverification

Region /Country - Canada
Party responsible for issuing verification
Name - Government license agreements and independent certification bodies.
-Examples of provincial government licenses from designated natural
resource/forestry ministries: Tree Farm License, Forest License, Road Permit,
License to Cut
Common certification examples: Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Program for
Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).

Location ‒ CanadaCommunication
Outline of issuing process
Issue of provincial tenure agreements
Operational planning
Timber marking and scaling
Independent compliance audit ‒ government mandated and/or certification-related

Scheme tocheck forlegality at thetime oflogging

The system shall verify legality only□/or both sustainability - BothDefinition of legality
Due to current lack of common international definition and given that illegal logging is
not a significant problem in Canada due to the countryʼs comprehensive legislative,
policy and compliance structure, discussion of illegal logging in Canada has focused
primarily on theft of timber and organized criminal activity.
Relevant laws
Federal and Provincial Legislation
Details of presumed illegal activities
Negligible
Procedures for retaining and verifying the evidence
Forest managers must have government license agreement
Operational plans reviewed by government and publicPermits issued for road building, harvesting
Compliance audits tied to license agreement
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability-Scheme tocheck forsustainability

Independent government audits and certification audits.
Take place randomly and based on external requests or complaints
BC compliance audit examples include: general inspections, harvest inspections, roadinspections, range inspections, recreation inspections, recreation patrols
Government audit bodies or appointed audit body audits are independent ofgovernment interference
Certification auditors are accredited by national and/or international standards
organizations.

Definition of sustainability
Outlined in FPAC sustainability initiative according to three primary principles: Economicallyviable, Environmentally responsible and Social Desirable.
Procedures for retaining and verifying the evidence
Provincial legislation and independent third party certification according to internationallyrecognized standards
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability

Canadian Standards Association, Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative,
Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes, Provincial legislation.
Scheme ofseparative
custody
management

Real picture of the dealings, from logging to export-Forest managers certified in most cases to one or more sustainable forest
management standards.
Managers also must be in compliance with all government laws and hold necessary
licenses and permits.
Process includes public review of all operational plans
Timber harvested by authorized licensed operators ‒ may be government, company
or contractor depending on scenario and type of license.
Timber is marked and/or scaled and identified with proper documentation linked tolicense area and company
Random or scheduled audits take place
Timber is processed/milled and separated or tracked to meet traceability and/or
chain of custody requirements
Product is transported/shipped through direct contract with buyers or throughindependent brokers. Documents and licenses indicate origin of timber.

Procedure for ensuring separative custody management
Chain of custody certification takes place by independent firms accredited under national orinternational bodies and chain of custody standards are associated with or acknowledged byinternationally recognized SFM certification bodies.
Chain of custody procedure may be through one of two processes:
1.
2.

Product segregation ‒ all products segregated based on properties
Percentage method ‒ certified percentage in can be claimed percentage out

Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability
Examples include:
PEFC Annex 4
SFI Annex 2
FSC Chain of Custody
Future TaskandPerspectives

Criticisms against the system and recognition of problems
Very few instances of difficulty or criticism due to mult-layered Canadian legislative,
regulatory, enforcement and audit regime.
Remediation procedure

Future perspectives
Expected ongoing collaboration with federal government in international forums, and collective
effort by industry through the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations.
ReferenceAuthor

Web site
URL www.fpac.ca
Contact
Name Title Organization Forest Products Association of Canada
Email address mhubert@fpac.ca