SBP to suspend biomass certificates in Russia and Belarus
The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has warned of disruption to its certification process as a result of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement, SBP expressed its condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine and said it remains “gravely concerned by the unacceptable actions directed against that country and its people”, which are “entirely at odds” with SBP’s values and those of its stakeholders.
The organisation has warned of the impact these actions and consequential sanctions on trade and transport activities, as well as disruption to the finance sector, will have on the supply and certification of SBP-certified biomass from Russia and Belarus.
“The combination of current circumstances, the already actioned and pending withdrawals of services from key technical and operating partners, mean we are unable to ensure the integrity and continuation of certification of SBP-certified biomass originating in Russia and Belarus,” said SBP.
“SBP is, therefore, notifying suspension of SBP certificates in Russia and Belarus from 8 April. This means that once suspension becomes effective, woody biomass can no longer be sourced in Russia and Belarus as SBP certified.”
The organisation said it will maintain communications with all impacted stakeholders and reiterated its commitment to supporting and certifying good biomass from across the globe, where it is line with SBP’s values and technically and operationally possible to do so.
In a statement, SBP expressed its condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine and said it remains “gravely concerned by the unacceptable actions directed against that country and its people”, which are “entirely at odds” with SBP’s values and those of its stakeholders.
The organisation has warned of the impact these actions and consequential sanctions on trade and transport activities, as well as disruption to the finance sector, will have on the supply and certification of SBP-certified biomass from Russia and Belarus.
“The combination of current circumstances, the already actioned and pending withdrawals of services from key technical and operating partners, mean we are unable to ensure the integrity and continuation of certification of SBP-certified biomass originating in Russia and Belarus,” said SBP.
“SBP is, therefore, notifying suspension of SBP certificates in Russia and Belarus from 8 April. This means that once suspension becomes effective, woody biomass can no longer be sourced in Russia and Belarus as SBP certified.”
The organisation said it will maintain communications with all impacted stakeholders and reiterated its commitment to supporting and certifying good biomass from across the globe, where it is line with SBP’s values and technically and operationally possible to do so.
