Public consultation: Japanese forest certification system

17 May 2021 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised national forest certification system for Japan. Deadline for comments is 16 July. Give your feedback now!

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

After revising the national system in line with PEFC requirements, SGEC/PEFC Japan submitted the revised system to PEFC. 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 hold a webinar on 31 May, at 9:00 CEST. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in Japan

SGEC/PEFC Japan joined the PEFC alliance in 2014, becoming the fourth national member from Asia. The Japanese forest certification system achieved PEFC endorsement in 2016, making this the first revision of the national system. There are now over 2.1 million 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 Japanese forest certification standard: 30 March 2021

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