Regional forest certification system for the Congo Basin submitted for endorsement

18 January 2021 PEFC system news

PAFC Congo Basin submitted their regional forest certification system to PEFC for endorsement in December last year. The public consultation, which is your chance to give your feedback on this new system, will run from 1 February to 1 April.

In order to provide you with additional information about this regional system, we are holding a webinar on 1 February, at 10:00 CET. The webinar is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. 

Our national members for Cameroon, Congo and Gabon joined forces under the name of PAFC Congo Basin to develop this regional certification system. The shared language and the similar forestry conditions in the three neighbouring countries enables PAFC Cameroon, PAFC Congo and PAFC Gabon to share one system.

The system development was led by our international stakeholder member ATIBT, in close collaboration with PAFC Cameroon, PAFC Congo, PAFC Gabon and Olam, another PEFC international stakeholder member. The project is funded by KfW, the German Development Bank, and co-funded by PEFC.

This is the first regional system submitted for endorsement. By developing a regional system, it enables our members to maximise their impact and reach, share resources and knowledge, and reduce the costs in developing and running a forest certification system. 

The endorsement process

After developing the regional system in line with PEFC requirements, it was submitted to PEFC. The system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this process and be approved by the PEFC General Assembly before it can achieve 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.