Public consultation: German forest certification system

21 April 2021 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised German forest certification system. Deadline for comments is 18 June.

PEFC Germany, revised their forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

After revising the system in line with PEFC requirements, PEFC Germany submitted the revised system to PEFC for endorsement. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor.

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, we held a webinar on 19 April 10:00 CEST. Watch the recording:

PEFC in Germany

PEFC Germany was among the first members to join PEFC in June 1999. Its national forest certification system was endorsed in 2000, with re-endorsements in 2005, 2010 and 2016. It is the first country to submit its national system for a fourth re-endorsement. There are currently just over 8 million hectares of PEFC-certified forest are 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 German forest certification standard: 1 April 2021

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