Discription ofthe products

Name ofutilizingsystem
Related AreaGeneral
overview ofverification

Scheme tocheck forlegality at thetime oflogging

Scheme tocheck forsustainability

Scheme ofseparative
custody
management

Region/Country
CanadaName of the products
Canadian Hard Softwood Lumber: Spruce Pine Fir (SPF)
Name of Exporter:
Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB)/ Canada Wood
Location: Quebec City, Province of Quebec, Canada
Outline of Exportation (Volume of importation/ End use etc)2009 Canadian Lumber Exports to Japan: 1,998,338M3
Wood origin and legality traceability system of QWEB based on the QWEB Code of Conduct,
complied with QWEBʼs Auditing and Traceability system
Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) which areinternationally recognized under the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Region /Country: Provinces of Quebec
Party responsible for issuing verification
Individual association member companies of QWEB are individually responsible for each of
their respective third party verification schemes.
Outline of issuing process
Certification issued through CSA, SFI (PEFC) and FSC third party accreditation bodies.
Please contact QWEB / Canada Wood association member companies for further detail.
The system shall verify -Both sustainability and legality are verified under PEFC and FSC
certification schemes.
Definition of legality
In Canada illegal logging is defined as: (A) Theft of timber or logs, (B) deliberate harvesting
without express or implied authority to do so, or in unauthorized areas or where authority has
been revoked for deficient harvesting practices, or after government approvals are obtainedby corrupt practices; (C) Where there is a deliberate failure to pay stumpage and/or royalties
to forest owners
Relevant laws
Many laws related to logging and harvesting exist at the municipal, regional, provincial andnational level.
On a provincial level for public lands (Crown Lands): Quebecʼs Forest Act and BestManagement Practices on Crown Lands
Details of presumed illegal activities
In Quebec, Canada, illegal wood is not really an issue. There is virtually no risk that woodcoming from Quebecʼs forests would have been illegally harvested.
Procedures for retaining and verifying the evidence
Respective certified member companies retain verification documentation in compliance with
PEFC / FSC certification schemes as well as related national and provincial laws.
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability
Responsibility of third party verification scheme is decided by individual member companies.
Definition of sustainability
Sustainable forest management integrates economic, social and environmental aspects ofmanagement into an appropriate balance that meets the needs of todayʼs society without
jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Procedures for retaining and verifying the evidence
Respective certified member companies retain verification documentation in compliance with
PEFC / FSC certification schemes as well as related national and provincial laws.
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability
Responsibility of third party verification scheme is decided by individual member companies.
Real picture of the dealings, from logging to export
Procedure for ensuring separative custody management
Scheme implemented by the third party and so on to ensure reliability

Future TaskandPerspectives

Criticisms against the system and recognition of problems
Remediation procedure

ReferenceAuthorFuture perspectives
QWEB/ Canada Wood Japan will continue to strive in the future to educate and encourage
member companies on the Japanese Goho Wood requirements as they relate to the Forestry
Agencyʼs guidelines for green procurement and other relevant marketplace needs.
Ryoichi TAKAHASIDirector, Japan Operations ‒ QWEB/ Canada Wood
Email address: Ryoichi.takahashi@mri.gouv.qc.ca