Public consultation: French forest certification system

25 July 2023 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the French Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 21 September.

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

See all system assessment details

The French 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 24 July at 10:00 CEST. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in France

PEFC France was among the first members to join the PEFC alliance in 1999. Its national forest certification system was endorsed in 2001 and subsequently re-endorsed in 2006, 2011, and 2017. There are currently around 8.1 million hectares of PEFC-certified forest area in the country.

Maintaining endorsements

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 French forest certification standard: 16 June 2023

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