Making certification work for sustainable development

This study provides an overview of certification schemes that are already in place or being developed, analysing the benefits and drawbacks of such schemes, assessing the implications for developing countries, and reporting on the possible ramifications of certification in the context of WTO. Some suggestions on how to ensure that biofuels certification is conducive to sustainable production in all regions are offered, including: (a) developing them through a participatory process where producers from different countries and regions are effectively involved; (b) basing them on scientific evidence; (c) support measures to encourage engagement in sustainable production and facilitate compliance; (d) not entailing unnecessary costs and delays in international trade; (e) criteria and indicators that can be evaluated in quantitative fashion; (f) avoiding reference to macro level concerns that would be difficult to evaluate with reference to a single product and better dealt with at another level.