PEFC suspends PEFC Belarus

14 April 2022 PEFC system news

The National Forest Certification System of Belarus has been suspended by the PEFC International Board, following a request by PEFC Belarus.

PEFC Belarus informed PEFC International that it is experiencing a delay in the periodic review of its system documentation. PEFC International requires endorsed systems go through a periodic review to ensure that they are consistently updated to meet PEFC International’s evolving benchmarks and national and international expectations. The delay would have caused PEFC Belarus to miss its periodic review deadline.  

The suspension is effective as of 18 April 2022 and suspension is valid until the revised system documentation is submitted, but at least for six months.

What does this mean for PEFC-certified organisations?

Certificates issued against the National Forest Certification System of Belarus are no longer PEFC recognised as of 18 April 2022. This applies to both forest management and chain of custody certificates. Certified organisations are therefore prohibited from using PEFC claims and the PEFC label and cannot sell material as PEFC certified.