The second draft of the Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC®) International Generic Indicators (IGIs) for the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides has caused quite a stir across the globe, about biomonitoring requirements it stipulates.

In response, Iba – the association responsible for representing the planted tree production chain in Brazil, PCCF/IPEF – The Cooperative Programme in Forest Certification of the Forestry Science and Research Institute – have developed a letter summarising their concerns about the medical biomonitoring. Two key issues for Iba are the costs associated with the biomonitoring proposal and the accessibility to certified biomonitoring laboratories, both of which may be a barrier in non-developed countries and to smallholders, who will not be able to comply with such levels of complexity.

The letter has been presented to the FSC Technical Working Group (TWG), who they hope will analyse and revise the biomonitoring proposal, considering the concerns raised. Ahead of presenting the letter to the FSC TWG, Iba approached other countries, organisations and forestry companies who share similar concerns regarding biomonitoring to add their signature to the letter.

TIPWG added their signature to the letter, as have Forestry South Africa, Komatiland/SAFCOL, Mondi, Sappi, NCT and York Timbers.

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