NLBMDA News - Urging NIST an dALSC to Create Eco-Labeling Program

NLBMDA Urges NIST and ALSC to Create Eco-Labeling Program

Today, NLBMDA will be submitting comments in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) request for comments for possible revisions to the American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20-05). PS 20-05 is a voluntary product standard that provides for the uniform, industry-wide grade-marking and inspection requirements for softwood lumber and must be reviewed every five years. In its comments, NLBMDA is requesting that NIST, through the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC), create a voluntary eco-labeling program covering lumber products from the point raw materials from certified forests reach the production plant (where the chain of custody transfers to the producer of the lumber product) to the final grade stamp of the finished lumber product as it enters the distribution channel. This would be achieved by developing a sixth element to the current grade stamp, verifying that the raw material was derived from a certified forest management program. The authorized grade-stamp under PS 20-05 would include a mark or designation certifying the product attribute of sustainable forest origin, representing an important process innovation - an eco-forest origin certification for softwood lumber products and the corresponding agency-certified eco-label as part of the grade stamp under the current American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20-05).

NLBMDA believes that the lack of an on-product label will continue to create confusion in the marketplace as competing forest management certification programs proliferate and become more complex. NLBMDA will post its complete comments to NIST on its website, http://www.dealer.org/ on May 19.