Public consultation: UK forest certification system

9 August 2022 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management and Trees Outside Forests. Deadline for comments is 6 October.

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

The revised system is among the first submitted to PEFC for endorsement to include a Trees Outside Forests (TOF) standard. TOF certification was one of the innovative developments of the 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard.

See all system assessment details

The UK 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 8 August at 11:00 CEST. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in the UK

The UK joined PEFC in 2001 and its national system was first endorsed in 2002. The system has been re-endorsed a further three times in 2008, 2013, and 2018. There are currently more than 1.5 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 UK forest certification standard: 30 June 2022

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