Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL) has plans to attain its independence certification for timber produc­tion in the coming months.

This was revealed by FHCL chair Adrian Sofield while pre­senting his submission on the Public Enterprises Bill 2019, Bill No. 4 of 2019 to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights yesterday.

In 2013, FHCL were indepen­dently certified.

Mr Sofield said he was unaware for the reason of lapse, because he was not part of the board then.

Mr Sofield highlighted coun­tries like New Zealand have re­fused to take Fiji’s logs due to the absence of independent certifica­tion.

He added the cost of attain­ing this certification would cost FHCL approximately $200,000.

“The certification and license gives us recognition toward working through our principles and also improve export,” he said.

“It gives us the recognition that we are harvesting in a sustain­able manner.

“Many countries who import timber like to know that they are working to international stand­ards.”

Other submissions made by Mr Sofield included:

• Election of FHCL general manager Shakeel Maharaj, since the association had been without a chief executive officer for 18 months.
• FHCL has re-established their financial setup and the manage­ment operation, Mr Sofield is confident that FHCL will show a profit for the first time in its his­tory.
• FHCL mill in Vanualevu now have contractors who harvest the logs and those who deliver to the mill gate.
• There was no audit done in 2009-2016 it was done from 2016-2017 which have queried the val­ue of the resources.
• With the leases there has been lack of communication with the land owners, Mr Sofield said Landowners have been margin­alised so they are trying to meet with and have more communica­tion.
• Currently FHCL has five members on the board, two from private enterprise and three are government appointees, Mr Sof­ield said they needed a board that meet and set policies.

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