SBP has today published the final draft Regional Risk Assessment for Denmark. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the draft.
Regional Risk Assessments are a key part of SBP’s focus on identifying and mitigating risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass wood pellet and woodchip production. The SBP certification system is designed to provide assurance that all feedstock is sourced legally and sustainably.
Feedstock certified at the forest level through FSC® or PEFC schemes and feedstock from recycled sources is automatically SBP-compliant. All other feedstock must be evaluated using a risk-based approach.
Typically, the Biomass Producer – a pellet or woodchip mill – is responsible for carrying out the risk assessment and putting in place mitigation measures to manage any specified risks such that they can be considered as controlled and hence low risk. It is the role of an independent, third-party Certification Body to check that the feedstock evaluation has been correctly undertaken.
The purpose of a Regional Risk Assessment is to evaluate an entire geographic region and determine the risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass wood pellet or woodchip production from that region. Thus, the need for individual Biomass Producers to conduct risk assessments is avoided. Further, Regional Risk Assessments are particularly valuable where statutory protection for forested land is limited.
Carsten Huljus, SBP Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Identifying and managing any risks so as to prevent illegal and unsustainable sourcing of feedstock for the production of biomass wood pellets and woodchips used in large scale energy production is central to the role of SBP.
“We encourage interested parties to take part in the consultation”.
The final draft Regional Risk Assessment for Denmark may be viewed at: http://www.sbp-cert.org/documents/consultation-documents/draft-regional-risk-assessments. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the final draft to Penny Bienz at penny.bienz@sbp-cert.org by Monday, 5 June 2017.
