Editorial updates to Chain of Custody Standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013)

15 January 2016 PEFC system news

PEFC International has released the 2nd edition of "Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products – Requirements" (PEFC ST 2002:2013). 

Chain of Custody certification is a mechanism for tracking certified material from the forest to the final product, with the ultimate objective of providing accurate and verifiable information about the content of PEFC-certified material.

The editorial update concerns the extension of PEFC’s exclusion of GMO material from the PEFC-certified supply chain to 31 December 2022, assuring customers and consumers that PEFC-certified material continues to be free of GMOs.

Explanatory Note

PEFC prohibits the use of genetically modified tress in sustainable forest management and certified products.

This prohibition on the usage of genetically-modified trees is based on the Precautionary Principle. As stated in the PEFC ST 1003:2010, until enough scientific data on genetically-modified trees indicates that impacts on human and animal health and the environment are equivalent to, or more positive than, those presented by trees genetically improved by traditional methods, no genetically-modified trees will be used.

The PEFC Chain of Custody Standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013) considers genetically modified material as "controversial sources" and prohibits their use.

The extension of the use of genetically modified material in PEFC ST 2002:2013 from 2015 to 2022 is based on the consideration that an in-depth discussion of the use of genetically-modified trees, based on robust scientific data on human and animal health and the environment, is expected to not occur before the 2021/2022 standards revision cycle. It does however not preclude stakeholders from considering the issue as part of the 2016/2017 standards revision cycle.