PPAG information
In the Principles and Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council criterion 6.6 deals with chemical use. Under criterion 6.6 the onus is on the certified forest or plantation to strive to avoid the use of chemicals or, where this is not possible to use chemicals safely.
FSC have also identified a list of specific chemicals that cannot be used unless there is shown to be no viable alternative, in which case a temporary derogation may be granted. If granted the derogation will detail specific conditions, that will apply to the use of the chemical, to mitigate negative impacts to the environment, health and safety. Derogations are considered to be temporary and during the period of the derogation the certified forest or plantation owner must actively look for options to reduce, remove or replace the derogated chemical.
An important part of the process is that stakeholders have an opportunity to comment on the derogations.
FSC Australia has set up an expert committee, the Pesticides Policy Advisory Group (PPAG) made up of pesticide scientists nominated by each of the 3 chambers that make up FSC Australia.
The three members of the panel are:
Ivan Kennedy
Professor in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry
Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,
University of Sydney
Dayanthi Nugegoda
Assoc. Prof. of Ecotoxicology, School of Applied Sciences
RMIT University
Jessica Whelan
Lecturer, University Department of Public Health
University of Tasmania
Jessica is currently completing a PhD on drinking water and public health in Tasmania. She has taught in the areas of society, culture and health; health sociology; crime and criminal justice and environmental sociology.
Current derogation applications:
Alph-cypermethrin derogation (71 kb)Amitrole derogation (86 kb)Carbaryl derogation (64 kb)Fipronil derogation (48 kb)Hexazinone derogation (100 kb)Oxyfluorfen derogation (103 kb)Pendimethalin derogation (95 kb)Terbuthylazine derogation (144 kb)
A derogation for the chemical Simazine has been approved by FSC International on an interim basis for 1 year. During that time the intent is for the derogation to be reviewed by the Pesticides Policy Advisory Group and a recommendation made to the FSC Board regarding the possible extensions of the derogation for the full 5 year period.Original derogation application for Simazine (58 kb)FSC Temporary Derogation approval notice (27 kb)
Reference documents:
FSC-GUI-30-001 V2-0 EN FSC Pesticides Policy Guidance (2007)FSC GUI 30 001a V1 Approved derogations for use of pesticides (Updated January 2008) (376 kb)