Second edition of the Chain of Custody guidance document published

10 June 2025 PEFC system news

Since its first publication in 2022, our Chain of Custody guidance document has provided PEFC chain of custody certified companies, certification bodies, and other key stakeholders with explanations and clarifications to the PEFC Chain of Custody related standards – and we are pleased to announce the second edition has just been published.

Over the last three years, the Chain of Custody working group (WG) responsible for the development of the PEFC chain of custody has gathered requests for clarification and identified requirements that required further clarification. It is these additional clarifications you will find in the second edition of the Chain of Custody guidance document. To ensure ease of reading, the new clarifications are in dark green.

A look at the new clarifications

PEFC Chain of Custody (ST 2002)

Last year we revised some key definitions in the PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard (ST 1003) to enable EUDR alignment. For those revised definitions that are also part of the Chain of custody standard, the second edition provides the updated definitions and recommendations on how to use them. 

There are also clarifications on the legal ownership of materials while outsourcing as well as alternative indicators to biodiversity and habitat index, which organisations can use while conducting risk assessments. 

Finally, there is a new chapter covering clarifications of the PEFC Due Diligence System implementation for materials coming from Trees outside Forests (TOF).

Certification Body Requirements for Chain of Custody (ST 2003)

Mindful of the scarcity of auditors and considering the similar auditing skill set acquired by auditors through their work and audit experiences in other schemes, the second edition clarifies the requirements for the work and audit experience needed for an auditor to qualify to provide PEFC chain of custody certification and to maintain their qualification. 

Work and audit experience in equivalent schemes in land-based commodities and related industries can now also count towards qualification and maintenance, in addition to forest and/or tree based and related industries.

Trademarks (ST 2001)

The additional clarifications for trademarks use include examples of how to use the PEFC trademarks, instructions regarding the Label Generator, and how to use the PEFC trademarks on material certified against a PEFC endorsed Chain of Custody standard.

The next steps

PEFC chain of custody certified companies, certification bodies, and other stakeholders are invited to download the second edition of the guidance document and use it as their reference document going forward.

The new clarifications within the guidance document will also be incorporated into all the PEFC training programmes. 

If you encounter any missing clarifications, please contact us at standards@pefc.org