UDT investigates complaint against RDLP Bialystok

8 December 2017 News

UDT has requested RDLP Bialystok to respond to the complaint filed by PEFC International by this Monday, 11 December 2017, 10:00, and reserves the right to suspend the certificate.

UDT will also undertake an immediate audit as part of the investigation.

PEFC International filed a complaint against the forest management certification issued by UDT-CERT to RDLP Bialystok (CSL/722/2017) on 1 December, noting with concern that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) expressed its doubts concerning the compliance with the Interim Measures, lodged by the ECJ on 20 July 2017 (case C-441/17), specifically that it "noted that the file contains a collection of sufficient evidence to make the Court doubt that the Member State has complied with this Ordinance and that it intends to respect this Ordinance until the judgment on the merits is pronounced."

PEFC International as a standard setting organization recognizes the independence of accredited certification bodies and conformity assessment process, and appreciates that the certification body must act with due diligence, in accordance with the respective ISO requirements.

In the meantime, based on the precautionary principle, PEFC International recommends all entities to suspend the use of any wood associated with the certificate CSL/722/2017 until such time as the certification body has reported back on its investigation of the complaint.

PEFC International has not yet received feedback from UDT-CERT about concerns from various stakeholders on the certification process that resulted in the issuance of the certificate by UDT-CERT to RDLP Bialystok (CSL/722/2017).