SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessment for Estonia published

SBP has today published the SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessment for Estonia. The publication of the Regional Risk Assessment follows a period of public consultation and internal review by SBP, including an approval recommendation from the independent Technical Committee. SBP has also published a response to consultation, which summarises and considers comments received from stakeholders.

SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessments are a key part of SBP’s focus on identifying and mitigating risks associated with sustainably sourcing feedstock for biomass pellet and wood chip production. The SBP Framework is designed to provide assurance that feedstock is sourced legally and sustainably.

Feedstock certified at the forest level through FSC® or PEFC-endorsed schemes is considered SBP-compliant. Other feedstock must be evaluated using a risk-based approach if it is to count towards an SBP-compliant claim.

The Biomass Producer – typically a pellet mill or wood chip producer – is responsible for carrying out the risk assessment and putting in place mitigation measures to manage any specified risks such that the risks can be considered to be controlled and hence low risk. It is the role of an independent, third-party Certification Body, approved by SBP, to check that the feedstock evaluation has been correctly undertaken and that any mitigation measures are being effectively implemented.

Peter Wilson, SBP Executive Director, commented: “The purpose of an SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessment is to evaluate an entire geographic region and determine the risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass pellet or wood chip production from that region. Thus, the need for individual Biomass Producers to conduct risk assessments is avoided and, therefore, consistency between Biomass Producers is improved.

“The SBP Regional Risk Assessment Procedure also ensures active engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders in the region. Such stakeholder engagement is incredibly valuable to certification schemes, such as SBP”.

The SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessment for Estonia and the SBP response to consultation can be found at: http://www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/documents/risk-assessments/regional-risk-assessments-for-the-baltic-states/estonia

SBP publishes fee schedules

SBP has today published two proposed fee schedules, which will be effective from 1 October 2016.

The first fee schedule is applicable to Certification Bodies and covers the fees associated with Certification Body approval and the review of a Certification Body’s certification decision in relation to applications for SBP certification.

The second is applicable to Certificate Holders, which include Biomass Producers, typically wood pellet and wood chip producers, and any entity taking legal ownership of SBP-certified biomass and selling that biomass with an SBP claim, typically biomass traders. These fees will cover the wider costs of administering and developing the SBP Framework.

SBP is a not-for-profit organisation. It is proposed that fees will be charged to Certification Bodies and Certificate Holders to cover those administrative costs of running the SBP Framework and developing the scheme that are not already met by membership fees.

Both the proposed fee schedules may be viewed at: http://www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/sbp-framework/fee-schedules