Forest Certification System – PEFC™ and FSC®
Currently, there are two Forest Certification Systems in Portugal: the PEFC™ System – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes and the FSC® System – Forest Stewardship Council. Both certify Sustainable Forest Management.
Forest Certification System – PEFC™
The PEFC™, or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, is an initiative that establishes a framework for the mutual recognition of national forest certification processes, aimed at promoting economically viable, ecologically appropriate, and socially beneficial forest management. It assures consumers of forest products that they are purchasing products from sustainably managed forests.
The reference basis for certification is the Pan-European Criteria for sustainable forest management adopted at the Helsinki and Lisbon Ministerial Conferences, from which each participating country develops its own national certification system.
The PEFC™ certification system is a process through which an independent third party ensures that forest management of an operation is practiced according to the requirements defined in the Portuguese Standard 4406 “Sustainable Forest Management Systems – Application of pan-European criteria for sustainable forest management”.
For more information, use the email ana.coelho@certis.pt or carolina.nogueira@certis.pt. Additional information can also be found on the PEFC™ Portugal website: https://www.pefc.pt/.
Certification Process Click here.
Forest Certification System – FSC®
The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international non-profit organization founded to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests through independent certification of forest management and the labeling of certified forest products. It operates as an accreditor of forest certification programs, ensuring consistent performance levels.
FSC® forest certification is a process through which forest operations are evaluated based on 10 FSC® principles for Forest Management, which serve as the foundation for developing region-specific forest management standards. Independent certification bodies, accredited by the FSC® to apply these standards, conduct detailed and impartial evaluations of forest operations upon the request of the owner.
FSC News:
Latest update of the FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1 Chain of Custody Certification standard.
English Version: Click here
Spanish Version: Click here
FSC® certification service offered in conjunction with Neocert Certificações Florestais e Agrícolas LTDA.
For more information, use the email ana.coelho@certis.pt or carolina.nogueira@certis.pt. Additional information can also be found on the FSC® Portugal website: https://pt.fsc.org/pt-pt.
Advantages of PEFC™ /FSC® Certification
- Producers ensure, both domestically and internationally, recognition that the products originate from sustainable operations.
- Added value to forest operations and their products.
- Enhancement of the operation’s image.
- Valorization of forest products as renewable raw materials.
- Increased profitability of forest operations.
- Strategic advantage for tapping into emerging markets for certified forest products.
- Credibility of the sector’s organization.
- Compliance with GF Standards reduces the risk of product rejection or legal actions.
- Improvement of the Company’s image.
In the case of Forest Certification, there are companies that pay premiums for certified wood.
Regarding cork, there is an increased demand for certified cork as opposed to non-certified cork.
Companies that have Forest Certification through the PEFC™ Systems
Granted Certifications
Forest Management: Companies that have Certification
Responsibility Chain: Companies that have Certification
Certifications Suspended or Canceled
Companies with Suspended or Canceled Certification