Latvia’s state forest (LVM) is aiming to reapply for full FSC certification by the end of 2010, but several industry sources have told TTJ that the process could take slightly longer.

Both LVM and the Latvia Forest Industry Federation said they were working hard to restore full FSC certification. It was suspended in July after auditors identified an apparent lack of regulation and the use of sub-contractors to carry out logging operations in FSC state forests and requested major corrective actions.

Federation executive director Kristaps Klauss told TTJ that he was impressed with the progress of negotiations and optimistic about FSC’s reinstatement by the end of 2010, but warned there was a possibility the issue may not be resolved until next March.

This, Mr Klauss added, could create a shortage of pure FSC-certified material between January and March/April, as there was very little available from private forests. Although several companies have already told TTJ that their existing FSC log supplies were secure until the end of 2010.

LVM also managed to secure FSC Controlled Wood certification on July 21, which Mr Klauss said was a step in the right direction, even if the UK preference was full FSC-certified timber. He added that PEFC certification was also likely to be in place this year.

“The industry wants PEFC and FSC certification – many markets buy both,” he said.

Tomas Kotovich, LVM’s head of corporate communications, told TTJ it planned to reapply for FSC certification at the end of this year or early next.

But he also warned it could take longer to receive certification because the auditors’ issues related to “matters of opinion” and were open to interpretation.

“These things are not fully under our own control,” he said.

He said Latvia’s PEFC system was currently going through the endorsement procedure as part of LVM’s goal to have dual forest certification.

LVM chairman Robert Stripnieks said that, to prevent the current situation reoccurring, Latvia is now aiming for a full FSC national standard, which would be better adapted to “Latvian conditions” than its previous SmartWood interim standard.