SBP has today published the draft Instruction Document 5A v1.1. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the draft.
Draft Instruction Document 5A v1.1 can be viewed here. Interested parties are asked to tabulate their responses into three columns headed: Section Number; Comments; and Suggested Solution. All written comments should be sent to Melanie Wedgbury at mkwedgbury@sustainablebiomasspartnership.org by the close of business on Monday, 4 April 2016.
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
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 has today announced that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), Canada has become the third ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body. PwC has provided evidence that it meets the SBP requirements regarding its existing accreditations and has demonstrated sufficient resource and competence to manage the SBP certification scheme under the SBP Framework.
The SBP Framework of standards and processes enables producers of woody biomass to demonstrate that they source their raw material responsibly and that it complies with the regulatory, including sustainability, requirements applicable to power generators burning woody biomass to produce energy.
PwC has been approved for the certification, in Canada and the United States of America, of Biomass Producers, typically pellet or woodchip mills, and the biomass supply chain, for example, Biomass Producers and components of the downstream supply chain, such as trade, transport and processing that require Chain of Custody certification.
Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented, “The SBP approval process is rigorous, including amongst other things the witness by SBP assessors of a PwC audit of a Biomass Producer and SBP’s approval of PwC’s audit team through training and examination. The final stage of the SBP approval process is a review by an independent Technical Committee of the whole assessment process and a recommendation for approval.
“I am pleased to confirm that PwC has achieved SBP approval”.
SBP has today published two Work Instruction Documents, which provide a step-by-step description of the Certification Body Approval Procedure and the Certificate Holder Approval Procedure.
In the interests of transparency, these documents illustrate the processes and the people that are involved in every approval decision made by SBP.
The documents can be viewed here: http://www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/documents/process-documents/work-instruction-documents
SBP has today published the SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessment for Lithuania. 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.
Carsten Huljus, SBP Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Evaluating an entire geographic region and determining the risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass pellet or wood chip production from that region avoids the need for individual Biomass Producers to conduct risk assessments. Consequently, Regional Risk Assessments greatly improve consistency in understanding and approach.
“The SBP Regional Risk Assessment Procedure also ensures active engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders in the region – something that is incredibly valuable to certification schemes, such as SBP”. The SBP-endorsed Regional Risk Assessment for Lithuania and the SBP response to consultation can be found at: http://www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/documents/risk-assessments/regional-risk-assessments-for-the-baltic-states/lithuania
SBP has today announced that SCS Global Services (SCS), USA has become the fourth ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body. SCS has provided evidence that it meets the SBP requirements regarding its existing accreditations and has demonstrated sufficient resource and competence to manage the SBP certification programme.
The SBP certification programme enables producers of woody biomass to demonstrate that they source their raw material responsibly and that it complies with the regulatory, including sustainability, requirements applicable to power generators burning woody biomass to produce energy.
SCS has been approved for worldwide certification of Biomass Producers, typically pellet or wood chip mills, and the biomass supply chain, for example, components of the downstream supply chain, such as trade, transport and processing that require Chain of Custody certification.
Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented, “The SBP approval process is both rigorous and robust, the final stage of which is a review by an independent Technical Committee of the whole assessment process and a recommendation for approval.
“I am pleased to confirm that SCS Global Services has achieved SBP approval”.
SBP has today announced that DNV GL Business Assurance Finland Oy Ab (DNV GL) has become the fifth ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body. DNV GL has provided evidence that it meets the SBP requirements regarding its existing accreditations and has demonstrated sufficient resource and competence to manage the SBP certification programme.
The SBP certification programme enables producers of woody biomass to demonstrate that they source their raw material responsibly and that it complies with the regulatory, including sustainability, requirements applicable to power generators burning woody biomass to produce energy.
DNV GL has been approved for the certification of Biomass Producers, typically pellet or wood chip mills, and the biomass supply chain, for example, components of the downstream supply chain, such as trade, transport and processing that require Chain of Custody certification. The geographic scope of the approval allows DNV GL to offer certification services in Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Sweden.
Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented, “The SBP approval process is both rigorous and robust. I am pleased to confirm that DNV GL has achieved SBP approval”.
SBP has today announced that Control Union Certifications BV (CUC) has become the sixth ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body. CUC has provided evidence that it meets the SBP requirements regarding its existing accreditations and has demonstrated sufficient resource and competence to manage the SBP certification programme.
The SBP certification programme enables producers of woody biomass to demonstrate that they source their raw material responsibly and that it complies with the regulatory, including sustainability, requirements applicable to power generators burning woody biomass to produce energy.
CUC has been approved for worldwide certification of Biomass Producers, typically pellet or wood chip mills, and the biomass supply chain, for example, components of the downstream supply chain, such as trade, transport and processing that require Chain of Custody certification.
Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented, “We are delighted with the progress made over the last 15 months. We now have six SBP-approved Certification Bodies, which we believe is a testament to the growing importance of the SBP certification programme within the woody biomass to energy market.
“The SBP approval process is both rigorous and robust. I am pleased to confirm that CUC has achieved SBP approval”.
The Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP) and Accreditation Services International (ASI) have today announced that SBP has appointed ASI as an accreditation body for the SBP certification scheme. The agreement between ASI and SBP enhances the integrity of the scheme through introducing another level of independent, third-party oversight at an important point in its development.
Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented: “In the interests of getting the SBP certification scheme to market in a timely fashion, SBP undertook the approvals role. It was always the intention that, in time, that role would be managed by an external accreditation service provider. The agreement with ASI marks a positive next step in the development of the SBP certification scheme”.
During the transition period, which runs from 2 August 2016 to 31 December 2017, existing SBP-approved Certification Bodies (CBs) will be required to transition to ASI accreditation. More on what that means for SBP-approved CBs and SBP Certificate Holders, that is, certified Biomass Producers and biomass traders, is available on the SBP website (www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/sbp-framework/asi-qa).
ASI Managing Director, Guntars Lagūns, emphasised: “ASI has long-standing experience in wood fiber commodities and we are looking forward to using our expertise and capacity to support the development and integrity of the SBP certification scheme”.
SBP is a unique certification scheme designed for woody biomass, mostly in the form of wood pellets and wood chips, used in industrial, large-scale energy production. The SBP Framework consists of a set of standards and processes allowing companies in the biomass sector to demonstrate compliance with regulatory, including sustainability, requirements.
ASI is the sole accreditation body for sector-specific certification scheme owners that develop multi-stakeholder standards to address pressing environmental, social and/or economic issues, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
