PEFC system

PEFC certification is based on independent third party monitoring.

Forest certification verifies sustainable forestry based on three things:

1. Public criteria concerning forest management

Forest management criteria are made public to ensure that information on the management of certified forests is available to everyone.

2. Criteria concerning the chain of custody of certified wood used in products

Criteria concerning the chain of custody of wood ensure that the stated share of certified wood in the product really originates from certified forests.

3. Monitoring compliance with criteria and labeling of the end product

In order to ensure that the criteria above are implemented in practice, the system must be monitored. In a credible forest certification system, the monitoring body must be independent and competent.

Independent means that the body is not linked to the parties involved in the production chain; the forest owner, harvesting, transporting, processing or product sellers, nor to the certification system itself or its supporters.

Competence means sufficient expertise in forestry, certification and the production of wood products.

Compliance with certification criteria is usually monitored by a private certifying company proven to be independent and competent by relevant authorities.