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2010-2014 SFI Standard Development Process First 60-Day Open Comment Period Begins June 2, 2008 (Press Release) (PDF-44KB) Deadline for submissions: August 4, 2008 SFI STANDARD REVIEW SURVEY (link to survey) The first official 60-day open comment period for the development of the 2010-2014 SFI Standard begins on June 2, 2008. Anyone who wishes to provide comments and suggestions on the Standard is urged to do so. SFI Inc. has elected to use a web-based survey to collect and compile the comments. This survey allows you to provide a rationale for changes to the current 2005-2009 SFI Standard and suggested new language for any aspect of the Standard. In addition, you also have to the option to suggest additional Objectives, Performance Measures and Indicators for the 2010-2014 SFI Standard. SFI Inc. recommends that you download the PDF (PDF-336KB) of the Review Survey and also the Word version of the 2005-2009 SFI Standard (Word-252KB) to facilitate your participation. The easiest way to comment would be to formulate your comments ahead of time, and then log into the survey, choose the sections you would like to comment on and then input your comments into the appropriate fields. Paper submissions will also be accepted as long as they are submitted in the appropriate template. Full instructions for paper submissions are in the pdf of the survey. All respondents are strongly urged to use the web-based format. When you are finished, you are provided with the option to print your comments, either in hard copy or PDF. Invitations and passwords were distributed to over 1,000 SFI Program Participants, stakeholders, supporters and customers. Entering the survey with a password allows you to save your work and go back at anytime, from any computer. If you need a password, and did not receive one via email invitation, please fill out this form, and we will respond within 2 business days with a password for your use. It is important that you coordinate with others within your organization to avoid duplication of efforts or misuse of passwords. If you received a password via the invitation email and have lost or forgotten it, please fill out this form and we will resend you your password. Key Survey recommends that you have the most up to date version of your web browser to ensure proper loading of the survey. Click here (PDF-11KB) for a list of recommended web browsers. SFI Inc. Pilot Projects There were several pilot projects established following the development of the 2005-2009 SFI Standard. These pilots were based to further research concepts developed during the 2005-2009 review process. The results of the SFI Inc Pilot Projects will also be considered by the SFI Inc. Standard Review Task Force when developing the first draft of the 2010-2014 SFI Standard. To review these projects, click here. Other Reference Documents SFI Standard Setting Procedures (PDF-209KB) Timeline for 2010-2014 SFI Standard Development Process (PDF-27KB) A note regarding the 2005-2009 Audit Procedures and Qualifications Please note that the SFI Inc, Board of Directors approved the requirement for certification body accreditation through international accreditation bodies, such as the American National Standards Institute, ANAB-ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board and the Standards Council of Canada during the last review, subject to the development and implementation of those programs. These programs have now been developed and are fully implemented. As such, some sections of this document are not current and others no longer relevant. However, to ensure transparency in the review process, we will accept any comments you wish to make on the APQ at this time. SFI Inc staff is currently working to make the changes necessary for this document to reflect the current accreditation and certification processes. We anticipate having a corrected version of the APQ will be posted on the SFI Inc. website by August 1, 2008. In addition, any references to the "Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB)" or "American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)" in the APQ should be ignored. As of January 1, 2007, SFI Inc. is a fully independent, registered non-profit charitable organization with a 501c3 status. Its three-chamber Board of Directors governs all aspects of the SFI program, with equal representation from the environmental, economic and social sectors. The SFB was merged into the new SFI Inc. organization and AF&PA no longer has any control over the SFI program. As the U.S. industry's trade association, AF&PA still makes participation in SFI or other North American forest certification programs endorsed by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) a condition of membership to improve forest practices. The situation is similar in Canada where the Forest Products Association of Canada has made certification to SFI, the Canadian Standards Association or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) a condition of membership. All comments received on the APQ will still be reviewed and considered in the same manner as those for the SFI Standard. |
