SCC EMS Registration Bodies CAN/CSA-Z809 SFM Transition 2003-2006

2003-09-25

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), together with the Canadian Standards Association's Sustainable Forest Management Technical Committee (CSA SFM TC), and the Forest Product Association of Canada (FPAC) have agreed to issue this transition advisory to all organizations regarding the new edition of Sustainable Forestry Management Standard, CAN/CSA-Z809-2002, published on June 27, 2003. This transition is in accordance with the mandatory 5 year review process for National Standards of Canada. The new standard supersedes both the CAN/CSA Z809-96 (requirements) and CAN/CSA Z808-96 (guidance).

All organizations registered to the 1996 version must be evaluated by their Registration Body (RB) against the 2002 Standard and reregistered as conforming to CSA-Z809-2002 within 3 years from the date of publication of the 2002 Standard. Hence, there will be a 3 year period in which certificates against CAN/CSA-Z809-96 will still be valid, however these certificates will expire on June 27, 2006. It is important to note that new RB client registration activities shall be assessed to the new CAN/CSA-Z809-2002 standard. Contact your registrar or visit www.scc.ca for a list of registrars accredited to conduct audits to the CSA SFM Standard.

CAN/CSA Z809-2002 SFM transition witness audits of qualified Registration Bodies are to be performed by June 27, 2004. Accredited certificates to CAN/CSA Z809-2002 SFM shall not be issued unless Head Office assessments and required witness audits have been completed by the SCC. For further information RB qualification activities, please contact Stefan Janhager at [email protected].

Interpretations (guidance) on the CAN/CSA Z809-2002 standard should be directed to Gary Gallinger, Project Manager Sustainable Forest Management, [email protected], CSA. Requests will be put forward to the CSA SFM TC for formal interpretations. The formal interpretations will then be forwarded to the inquirer and to SCC for distribution to the accredited registration bodies who will then take the appropriate steps.

Interpretations (guidance) on the implementation of CAN/CSA Z809-2002 in the context of RBs EMS accreditation requirements should be directed SCC's accredited Registration bodies and to Stefan Janhager, Senior Program Officer, EMS, SCC..

For additional information regarding key changes to the SFM Standard, kindly refer to the document prepared by CSA.