Standards & schemes · Certification scheme

PEFC (endorsement system)

PEFC International

What is it?

Certification scheme issued or operated by PEFC International.

Regulatory recognitionMutual-endorsement model alternative to FSC

Which version is current?

Profile version 2. Official information last verified 22 August 2026.

Who and what does it cover?

Geography: Global
Sectors: Forest products
Scope: Forest / product

What does it require?

Umbrella endorsement system for national forest-certification schemes, with its own chain-of-custody standard.

What it does not demonstrateThe scheme does not by itself prove that a particular product, site or organisation holds a current certificate; its scope and validity must be checked.

How is conformity assessed?

Endorsed national schemes; third-party audits

Grievance mechanismNational scheme channels

Who makes the decision?

PEFC International

Assurance arrangementEndorsed national schemes; third-party audits

Chain of custody

ISEAL membershipISEAL member

Conditional relationships

Claims it may support

A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.

Sustainably sourced timberMay support · Requires a current valid certificate within the scheme's scope; certification supports but does not by itself prove the claim — wording must reflect certified scope and assurance level.see standards.last_verified

Legal context

Laws referencing it

No reviewed law references are published.

Dictionary

Dictionary concepts

No reviewed dictionary cross-link is published.

Version record

What has changed

Version 2Initial profile published after recorded site-owner/editor review of the complete standards batch.23 Aug 2026
Version 1Initial private editorial draft imported from the reviewed standards handover.23 Aug 2026

Last verified 22 August 2026. This neutral profile is informational and does not recommend, rank or endorse the standard.