Dear Member of the Public / Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) Stakeholder,
The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), as the scheme owner of MTCS, hereby announces the public consultation on the draft MTCS ED 1004:2026 (Enquiry Draft) Requirements for Certification Bodies Operating the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (MC&I SFM) Certification.
The public consultation is conducted as part of the requirements of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) applicable to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) seeking to maintain the endorsement of their certification systems. For MTCS, the public consultation process is conducted in accordance with MTCS PR 1001:2026, Standard-setting Procedures (including for Forest Management Certification Standards).
MTCC welcomes comments and feedback from all interested stakeholders and members of the public to support the review and further development of the draft MTCS ED 1004:2026.
Background
MTCS ED 1004:2026 was developed by the Technical Committee for MTCS ST 1004 to align with the requirements of the PEFC ST 1004:2024 Requirements for Certification Bodies operating Certification against PEFC Endorsed Forest Management Standards. The Enquiry Draft consolidates the Accreditation of Certification Bodies – Forest Management Certification (ACB FMC) documents and current requirements for Certification Bodies (CBs) undertaking forest management certification under MTCS into a single standard.
Rather than serving as a separate supplement to ISO/IEC 17021 1:2015 (the primary requirements for management system certification bodies), the draft references and incorporates ISO/IEC provisions, providing users with a single authoritative standard.
Upon its publication and entry into force, MTCS ST 1004 will supersede the following existing ACB FMC documents.
Natural Forest, the documents include:
- ACB-FMC 1-1, auditor competency;
- ACB-FMC 1-2, audit duration;
- ACB-FMC 1-3, peer review;
- ACB-FMC 1-4, stakeholder consultation.
Forest Plantation, the documents include:
Key Features of the Draft
This draft establishes clear, consistent, and robust requirements for CBs operating forest management certification under MTCS, reflecting MTCC’s commitment to credibility, effectiveness, and consistency in certification activities.
Key features of the MTCS ED 1004:2026 include:
- Alignment with PEFC ST 1004:2024 Requirements for Certification Bodies Operating Certification against PEFC Endorsed Forest Management Standards;
- Consolidation of the existing ACB-FMC documents and applicable MTCS requirements into a single standard;
- Incorporation of all requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 applicable to management system certification bodies;
- Establishment of requirements covering, among others, competence, certification processes, stakeholder engagement, group forest management certification, accreditation and MTCC notification of Certification Bodies.
Public Consultation
This consultation seeks feedback from stakeholders, including industry representatives, civil society organisations, government agencies, and members of the public, to ensure the proposed requirements are clear, practical, effective, and aligned with national interest, legal requirements, stakeholders’ expectations and relevant international certification practices.
Commencement Date | Closing Date | Duration |
10 September 2026 | 9 November 2026 | 60 days |
Â
MTCC invites all stakeholders to:
- Assess the adequacy and clarity of the proposed requirements;
- Suggest improvements to enhance clarity, effectiveness, and efficiency;
- Share best practices and highlight stakeholder expectations for implementation.
How to Participate
- Read the Enquiry Draft
Access MTCS ED 1004:2026.
- Download the Public Consultation Feedback Form
Download the Feedback Form
- Provide Your Feedback
Complete the Feedback Form, indicating the relevant clause(s), where applicable, and provide justification or proposed wording for your comments.
- Due date for submission
Submit Your Feedback by 9th November 2026
Option 1: Submission Via Email
Complete the form and email it, together with any attachments you may have, to:Â
[email protected]
Option 2: Submission Via Mail
Complete the form and mail it together with any attachments you may have to the following address:Â
Malaysian Timber Certification Council
C-08-05, Block C, Megan Avenue II
No. 12, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
(Attention to: Forest Management Unit)
Confidentiality
Information provided by respondents in connection with this public consultation will be treated as confidential and used solely for the purpose of reviewing and considering comments on the draft MTCS ED 1004:2026.
MTCC will not disclose respondents’ personal information or contact details to third parties without prior consent, except where disclosure is required by applicable laws, regulations, or other legitimate requirements.
MTCC may, however, use the substantive comments and feedback received to inform the review and further development of the draft MTCS ED 1004:2026. Where appropriate, comments may be consolidated or anonymised for reporting and consultation purposes.
MTCC values your time and contribution. Your feedback will help strengthen the requirements for Certification Bodies and enhance the credibility and effectiveness of forest management certification under the MTCS.
Thank you for your participation and valuable input.
Publish Date: 10 September 2026
