Public consultation: Dutch forest certification system

12 May 2021 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised national forest certification system for the Netherlands. Deadline for comments is 8 July. Give your feedback now!

PEFC Netherlands revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

The revised PEFC Certification System Netherlands is one of the first national systems submitted to PEFC for endorsement that includes a Trees Outside Forests (TOF) standard. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. 

The Dutch system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement. 

An important aspect of the assessment process is the public consultation. Over the sixty-day consultation, stakeholders from around the world can give their comments and provide feedback on any aspect of the system. The Registered Assessor will use the information received from this consultation in their assessment of the system.

Need more information?

To provide you with additional information about this revised system and the new TOF standard, we held a webinar on 10 May at 10:00 CEST. Watch the recording:

PEFC in the Netherlands

PEFC Netherlands joined the PEFC alliance in 2006 and the Dutch forest certification system achieved PEFC endorsement in 2012. The first Dutch forest owners achieved PEFC certification in 2016 and there are currently 3,200 hectares of PEFC-certified forest in the country.

Maintaining endorsement

For a national system to maintain its endorsement, it must meet a series of endorsement milestones. These milestones are linked to the national periodic review of the system and the sustainable forest management standard.

National systems go through a periodic review five years after their national approval (first endorsement milestone). The periodic review includes a gap analysis, public consultation and consideration of feedback received while the standard is in force.

National approval of the Dutch forest certification standard: 5 November 2020

Find out more about PEFC ensures national standards continue to meet expectations.