Public consultation: forest certification system for Australia and New Zealand

2 March 2022 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Responsible Wood Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 28 April.

Responsible Wood revised the national forest certification system for Australia and New Zealand following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

See all system assessment details for Australia and New Zealand.

The Responsible Wood 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 national system, we held a webinar on 28 February. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in Australia and New Zealand

Responsible Wood joined the PEFC alliance in 2002 (then known as the Australian Forestry Standard, AFS), with the national system endorsed in 2004. The system was re-endorsed in 2009 and 2015. There are currently around 18.6 million hectares of PEFC-certified forest area in the country. 

New Zealand Forest Certification Association (NZFCA) joined PEFC in 2015 and their national system was endorsed the same year. There are just over 600,000 hectares of PEFC-certified forest area 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 national forest management standard: 19 October 2021

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