Migration to CAN/CSA Z809-08

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has established an implementation plan to ensure a smooth transition of SCC-accredited certification from CAN/CSA Z809-02 to CAN/CSA Z809-08. This plan was developed with input from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Technical Committee on Sustainable Forest Management responsible for the CAN/CSA Z809 standard.  The details of the plan are outlined below:

• As with all National Standards of Canada, CAN/CSA Z809 is periodically reviewed to ensure that it is maintained at the state of the art.
• CAN/CSA Z809-08, which is due to be published shortly, will replace CAN/CSA Z809-02 which is the current standard implemented by organizations within their forest operations in Canada. Annex C of the CAN/CSA Z809-08 Standard explains the differences between the two standards.
• Though CAN/CSA Z809 is a voluntary standard, the sustainable management of millions of hectares of forests has been audited and certified to CAN/CSA Z809.
• CSA is the publisher of CAN/CSA Z809, but does not itself carry out auditing and certification. These services are performed by third-party independent certification bodies accredited by SCC.
• Certification bodies may apply to be accredited as competent by SCC, Canada's national accreditation body, in accordance with the international standards ISO/IEC 17021:2006, that specifies the requirements for bodies providing auditing and certification of sustainable forest management systems in Canada, and ISO/IEC 17011:2004, that specifies the requirements for accrediting such bodies.

Key changes in the new CAN/CSA Z809 standard

Major changes to the new CAN/CSA-Z809 national standard include the addition of a list of key topics for discussion during the public consultation process and the addition of mandatory core indicators to be addressed under the Sustainable Forest Management elements.

A detailed description of the changes in CAN/CSA-Z809-08 is included in Annex C (informative) Summary of key changes in this edition of CSA Z809.

A. The implementation plan established by the SCC in relation to accredited certification is as follows:

SCC accredited certification to CAN/CSA-Z809-08 shall not be granted until it is published as a National Standard of Canada.

Certification of conformity to CAN/CSA Z809-08 shall only be issued after the official publication of CAN/CSA Z809-08 and after a recertification audit against CAN/CSA Z809-08.

B. Validity of certifications to CAN/CSA-Z809-08

Three years after publication of CAN/CSA Z809-08, all SFM certifications issued (new certifications or recertification) by SCC-accredited certification bodies shall be to CAN/CSA Z809-08.

C. Thirty six months (36) after publication by CSA of CAN/CSA Z809-08, any existing accredited certification issued to CAN/CSA Z809-02 shall not be valid.

Additional SCC CAN/CSA Z809 Transition Requirements:

To support Certification Bodies’ (CB) transition of certifications to CAN/CSA Z809:2008, the SCC is requiring CBs to identify a transition plan for implementation of CAN/CSA Z809 that includes the following:

a)  Updating of existing documents referencing CAN/CSA Z809: 2002;

b) Training of assessors and relevant certification personnel on the clarifications to the CAN/CSA Z809 requirements;

c)  Plans for verification of effectiveness of training;

d)  Identification of key dates related to the implementation of CAN/CSA Z809:2008 (e.g. Target date for first use);

e)  Plans for reissuance of certification documents that includes actions for the return or destruction of existing CAN/CSA Z809: 2002 certificates;

f) Development and implementation of a communications plan to support the implementation of CAN/CSA Z809: 2008.  When developing the communications plan, consideration should be given to publicly available information such as websites, client communications and client materials publicizing their certification; and,

g) The SCC is requesting that CBs post their transition plans to the corporate information folder on Sitescape Forum by 31 August, 2009.  Transition plans will be reviewed and feedback provided to the CB on an ongoing basis.  Implementation will be verified during regularly scheduled SCC oversight activities.

Transition Timeline

Thirty-six months following the publication by CSA of CAN CSA Z809:08 (May 30, 2010), any existing certifications issued to CAN CSA Z809-02 shall not be valid. The deadline for transition will be May 30, 2013.

For additional information regarding the implementation of CAN/CSA Z809: 2008, please contact an SCC Senior Program Officer.  Copies of the CSA Z809, Sustainable Forest Management standard may be downloaded at no cost by visiting the Canadian Standards Association’s standards store at: http://www.shopcsa.ca/