NCCF launches its “Safeboards Standards and Certification Scheme” on 26th of November 2021 with the approval of its Governing Body
26th November 2021| NETWORK FOR CERTIFICATION AND CONSERVATION OF FORESTS: 19th Governing Body (GB) Meeting held on 26th November 2021 has approved Safeboards Standards and Certification Scheme, for its launch, adoption and use by the stakeholders.
The Safeboards Standards and Certification Scheme have been developed through a Standard Development Group (SDG) constituted under the Chairpersonship of Mr. A. K Goyal, IFS (retd.), ex-Special Secretary to the Government of India. This scheme is focused on technical criteria and safe levels of emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products; plywood, block boards, particle boards, MDF, to improve indoor air quality, thus addressing human health and environment. This will help promote exports of wooden furniture, handicraft items, wooden toys and cutleries etc. The Certification Scheme ensures uniform technical regulations using appropriate Standards across the manufacturing units for production of safe products intended to be sold in export and domestic markets.
Shri A. K. Goyal, Chairperson, SDG, Safeboards Standards presented an overview of the scheme,while emphasizing that the scheme will cater to the demand of the manufacturers of composite wood products in India and elsewhere for safe emission levels of formaldehyde and other volatile organic substances and meet the requirements of exports and domestic use with health and environmental benefits to the people.
Shri Avani K. Varma, Chairman, NCCF complimented NCCF for this great initiative and appreciated the hard work done by SDG for developing this internationally benchmarked Standards over a period of less than two years.
Ms Neeti Verma –Technical Expert, Safeboards Standards made a comprehensive presentation on various components of the Standards and explained how it is based on international best practices , covering various issues related to formaldehyde emissions, the benefits of certification of composite wood and potential of NCCF’s Safeboards Standards for wood based industries.
Shri Vijai Sharma, Chairman Emeritus, NCCF highlighted the significance of Safeboards Scheme, stating that public health and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin, and that certification has helped to bring these two dimensions together through monitoring, measurements, and science.
Mr. Anil Jauhri advised that the certification and accreditation criteria should be firmed up in consultation with the Certification advisory group (CAG) and that we need to engage with the Certification Bodies (CBs) for their orientation and capacity building for operating upon the Safeboards Standards. He advised NCCF to engage with the Green Building certification Schemes -IGBC,TERI GRIHA and Assocham GEM to promote Safeboards Standards.
Mr. A. K. Bansal, Chairperson, PCA Group of NCCF suggested that quantitative data collection with respect to the actual impact on human health from formaldehyde emissions in the indoor environment was necessary. Also, we need clarity in the certification process and develop the enrolment criteria for the CBs and define the process for enlisting interested candidates for successful promotion of the Standards. He also advocated for mandatory standards for formaldehyde emission from wood composites.
Shri A. K. Srivastava, Director General, NCCF, in his closing remarks, thanked the Members of Governing Body for approving the Safeboards scheme and compliments the Standard Development Group and Safeboards Team in completing the task of Standards Development in a fast track mode with utmost professionalism. He was confident that the Safeboards scheme will be economical, easy to implement and accessible to the members of industry.
The presentation made in the meeting may be seen click here