The MTCS started operation in October 2001 and comprises two components:

i) Forest Management Certification

This is a process of third party audit of the forest management practices in a Forest Management Unit (FMU) or Forest Plantation Management Unit (FPMU) to assess compliance with the requirements of a prescribed standard, leading to an award of a Certificate for Forest Management under the MTCS.

• a) Standard for Certification of Natural Forest

  The standard currently used for certification of natural forest is the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification (Natural Forest) or in short MC&I(Natural Forest).

• b) Standard for certification of Forest Plantations

  The standard used for certification of forest plantations is the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification (Forest Plantations) or in short MC&I(Forest Plantations)

ii) Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification

This is a process of third-party audit of timber product manufacturers or exporters to ascertain that the timber products manufactured or exported are sourced from forests which have been awarded the Certificate for Forest Management, and leads to an award of a Certificate for Chain-of-Custody under the MTCS.

• a) Standard for CoC Certification

  The standard used for CoC is the PEFC ST 2002:2013, Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products – Requirements of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

Inimplementing the MTCS, MTCC is the National Governing Body (NGB) which is overall in charge of the scheme. The accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) receive and process the applications for certification, conduct audits and make decisions to award the Certificate for Forest Management and Certificate for Chain of Custody. The CBs are required to obtain accreditation from the national Accreditation Body (AB) which is the Department of Standards Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA).