How to create a national standard?

When making a national standard two steps are of importance. The actual development and testing of the standard and seeking international recognition.
International recognition is important for consumer confidence, but also to comply with the international agreements in world trade (WTO). A certification or labeling scheme should not form a trade barrier (TBT).

A national standard can be:

• a translation of the existing international FSC standard. This is a relatively easy, fast and cheap way and in accordance with the WTO / TBT agreements. The national standard is translated  and presented to FSC Internationa for approval (endorsement).
• An originally designed standard stemming from existing international principles (ITTO, CIFOR).
• An originally designed standard based on its own national sustainability principles.

The process of the last two options is more difficult and takes longer. Chances are that the wheel will be reinvented the wheel and thus a lot of work will be done will later prove to have been unnecessary.

In the last two options, international recognition of the developed certification scheme not obvious. This may still be sought with  international schemes such as  PEFC or FSC.