The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is seeking to standardise safety and quality through a code of practice for sawmills, lumberyards, and other wood processing facilities. The agency also seeks to enforce its code of practice.
The GFC has been engaging operators of sawmills, lumberyards, and other wood processing facilities to enforce its code of practice and to have those facilities adopt the code of practice and have them implemented into their establishments.
Commissioner of the GFC, James Singh recently said there is a pressing need for consistency in quality and safety standards.
He added that while some wood processing facilities adhere to high standards, others lag behind, creating inconsistencies that affect both the quality of products and consumer satisfaction.
“We are concerned that the standards of the sawmills and lumber yards generally do not meet the requirements that we have set and consumers also have a problem, so we have prepared a code of practice for wood processing operations,” Singh said.
Non-compliant facilities will receive initial warnings, and further actions will be taken if issues remain unresolved.
However, Singh said the agency is adopting a phased approach towards ensuring compliance.
The code was gazetted this year even though it was established in 2011.
“This document prescribes the minimum standards for saw milling, lumber yards and generally for the layout of a mill, health and safety and ensuring the diametrical stability of the lumber that we produce and improvement of the quality.”
The commission has so far met with operators at Parika, Anna Regina, Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden, and Corriverton.
According to Singh, adapting the code of practice will result in higher industry standards, better products for consumers, and increased profit margins for operators. (G4)
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