ASTM D7612 Category Definitions and Requirements

The purpose of the classification strategy in ASTM D7612 is to provide wood products manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with a system to provide clear, objective information to communicate to consumers regarding product conformance to different wood fiber tracing systems within specific forest management or forest certification programs.

It provides a structure that segregates the different types of labels and tracing systems in use among major forest certification standards and other voluntary and regulatory standards governing the production of forest products.

ASTM D7612 provides an objective basis to differentiate among:

  1. Non-controversial (that is, legal) sources of forest products,
  2. Responsible sources of forest, and
  3. Certified sources of forest products

The definitions of each category are:

Non-Controversial (That is, Legal) Sources of Forest Products: 

Products from non-controversial (that is, legal) sources are produced with wood fiber from jurisdictions with a low risk of illegal activity or from controlled wood standards, stair-step standards, legality assessments, or other proprietary standards. Products from non-controversial sources shall be traceable to the applicable jurisdiction, or chain of custody.

Responsible Source of Forest Products:

Products from responsible sources are produced with wood fiber acquired according to an independently certified procurement standard or are from a proprietary forestry standard or from jurisdictions with regulatory or quasi-regulatory programs to implement best management practices.

In a regulatory program the law provides legal sanctions for non-compliance. A “quasi-regulatory” program may not impose direct legal sanctions, but state law has defined explicitly legal implications for non-compliance.

The National Association of State Foresters has examined state best management practices and written a report delegating each state into regulatory, quasi-regulatory and voluntary compliance. https://www.stateforesters.org/bmps/

These standards or programs are typically consensus-based proprietary certification standards or public legislative and regulatory processes. To qualify for this category, the applicable standard or forest governance in the applicable geography shall document a system designed to require compliance with best management practices to protect water quality and ensure all fiber comes from known and legal sources.

NCASI has developed a Compendium of Forestry Best Management Practices for Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution in North America report. (downloadable PDF)

Certified Sources of Forest Products:

Products from certified sources are produced with wood fiber acquired in accordance with, and independently certified to, an internationally recognized voluntary forest certification standard or equivalent.

According to ASTM D7612, organizations promulgating the most prominent forest certification programs throughout the world are the:

  • American Tree Farm System (ATFS) (www.treefarmsystem.org),
  • Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forest Management Standard Z-809 (CSA-SFM) (www.csasfmforests.ca),
  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) (www.fsc.org),
  • Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) (www.pefc.org), and
  • Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) (www.sfiprogram.org).

Table 1 of ASTM D7612 identifies the requirements for system governance, content and traceability for each category.

A See Appendix X3 for discussion of additional concepts related to sub-categorization of certified sources.

B For the purposes of categorizing products under this practice, distributors and retailers can rely on “on-product” labels for chain of custody or a certified procurement system if they are not engaged in significant value-added processing or remanufacture. In lieu of an on‐product label, a certificate of compliance indicating conformance with the applicable chain of custody or certified procurement system is permitted.

Water quality system best management practices are limited to the Responsible Source designation.

Federal Lands with Forest Management Plan Declarations

Forest Management Plans in substantial compliance with relevant portions of Guide D7480  or equivalent are applicable to both Responsible and Certified designations. ASTM D7480 copies the requirements of the Montreal Process criteria and indicators for the conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests.

For more information on forests and countries that document compliance with the Montreal Process (i.e. ASTM D7480), see https://www.montrealprocess.org

The US Forest Service report is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain/sustainability-reports.php#tabs-2

The Canadian Forest Report is available at https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests-forestry/state-canadas-forests-report/16496

Protective versus Productive Forest Management Practices

Responsible Source through ASTM D7612 embraces “protective” rather than “productive” forest practices, i.e.:

protective forestry practices, n—practices used in forests managed primarily for provision of environmental services, including soil and water protection, pest control, and conservation of biological diversity, or social services, including recreation, tourism, education, or conservation of cultural/spiritual sites, or any combination thereof, and foregoing the use of silvicultural techniques maximizing the production and extraction of forest goods, including wood and non-wood products.