The PEFC Council has adopted the revised chain of custody standard PEFC ST 2002:2020 Chain of Custody of Forest and Tree Based Products – Requirements, which enters into force on 14 February 2020.
This revised standard replaces PEFC ST 2002:2013 Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products- Requirements Second Edition dated 7 December 2015 which is the current chain of custody standard used under the MTCS. Please take note that an 18-month transition period has been granted for the application of the new standard and that the PEFC ST 2002: 2013 will be withdrawn on 14 August 2021. However, during the transition period, i.e. from now until 13 August 2021, certificate holders are given the option of being audited to the current standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013) or the revised standard (PEFC ST 2002:2020).
After 13 August 2021, all audits for chain of custody certification, whether first-time audits, surveillance or recertification audits shall only be carried out against the revised PEFC ST 2002:2020 document.
Among the main changes in the revised chain of custody standard are:
- Due to the extension of the scope of PEFC sustainable forest management standard to cover “trees outside forests” (e.g. “Agroforestry”), the scope of the chain of custody standard has also been extended to cover this aspect.
- The definition of “controversial sources” has been expanded to incorporate additional sustainability requirements, requiring companies along the entire timber value chain to help promote responsible forestry.
- An addition of Chapter 7: DDS, with the intent to highlight that for product groups where organisations are only using material that came with PEFC claims from PEFC certified suppliers, the DDS requirements can be easily conducted and without having to open the whole of Appendix 1.
MTCC will be organising a series of briefing sessions to provide certificate holders with a better understanding on the requirements and changes made in the revised PEFC ST 2002:2020 standard as compared to the PEFC ST 2002:2013 document. You will be advised in due course with regard to the dates and venues of the briefing sessions, taking into consideration of the current COVID 19 pandemic. We hope all certificate holders will take the necessary care to ensure good health and safety of both yourself and your employees during this unprecedented and stressful time.
Thank you.