Malaysia’s Framework
for Responsible Forestry
Owned and administered by MTCC, the MTCS supports credible certification, sustainable forest management, and responsible sourcing practices across Malaysia.
Malaysian Timber
Certification Scheme (MTCS)
The Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) sets the standards for sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing across Malaysia’s timber supply chain, from forest to final product.
The Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) is Malaysia’s national forest certification scheme. It is owned and administered by the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), the National Governing Body for the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) in Malaysia.
The MTCS was first endorsed by PEFC in 2009, making it the first tropical timber certification scheme in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve PEFC endorsement. It was re-endorsed in 2014, and its endorsement was maintained again in June 2021.
MTCC is the scheme owner and standard-setting body and is not itself a certification body; certification is carried out by independent, accredited Certification Bodies. To read more about how certification is carried out and how the scheme’s independence is maintained, visit How We Work.
What certification
under the MTCS covers
Certification provides independent verification of sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing throughout the forest and tree-based supply chain. The MTCS provides for this through three complementary pathways.
Forest management certification provides independent verification that a forest, whether natural forest or plantation forest, is managed in line with defined environmental, social and economic requirements, enabling forest managers to demonstrate that their practices meet the MTCS.
Chain of custody certification tracks MTCS/PEFC-certified material from the forest, through processing and manufacturing, to the point at which a claim is made on the final product, providing verified controls for tracing MTCS/PEFC-certified, recycled, and other controlled material through the supply chain.
Project sourcing certification extends this same principle of verified, traceable sourcing to construction and infrastructure projects, allowing project organisations to demonstrate that the forest and tree-based materials used within a project are responsibly sourced.
Forest Management
Certification
Forest management certification under the MTCS is assessed against the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (MC&I SFM), the national forest management standard. It applies to both natural forests and plantation forests.
Each principle is supported by criteria and indicators against which a forest manager is assessed by an independent certification body. The standard is reviewed at intervals not exceeding five years, so it stays current and remains aligned with PEFC’s requirements.
Forest owners and managers may also be certified together under group forest management certification, making certification more practical for smaller operators. Beyond timber, the MTCS also provides for the certification of non-timber forest products under the MC&I SFM.
The MC&I SFM is structured around nine principles:
- Principle 1: Compliance with laws
- Principle 2: Tenure and use rights and responsibilities
- Principle 3: Indigenous peoples' rights
- Principle 4: Community relations and workers' rights
- Principle 5: Benefits from the forest
- Principle 6: Environmental impact
- Principle 7: Management plan
- Principle 8: Monitoring and assessment
- Principle 9: Maintenance of high conservation value areas
Standards and guidance:
Chain of
Custody Certification
Chain of custody certification provides assurance that material in a product carrying a PEFC claim or label originates from certified forests, recycled material, or PEFC controlled sources. It tracks material from the forest, through processing, manufacturing, and trade, to the point a claim is made on the final product.
The standard sets out three methods for controlling certified content, physical separation, percentage, and credit, alongside a Due Diligence System (DDS) for avoiding material from controversial sources, and management system requirements including record keeping and complaints handling.
Small companies can also gain chain of custody certification through group certification, where a group entity holds the certificate on behalf of its members. This reduces the cost and complexity of certification for smaller operators, since a sample of group members is audited rather than every company individually.
Companies that wish to label products or make on-product claims must also hold a valid PEFC trademark licence.
Standards and guidance:
Project
Sourcing Certification
PEFC Project Sourcing certification is a certification pathway for organisations delivering construction and infrastructure projects. It provides independent, third-party assurance that the forest and tree-based materials used within a project have been responsibly sourced, are traceable, and supported by verifiable evidence.
It applies to a wide range of projects, including commercial and residential developments, public buildings, transport and infrastructure projects, interior fit-outs, renovations and retrofits, and temporary structures, and is particularly relevant to developers, architects, contractors, designers, and specifiers. Projects involving multiple contractors can also participate, provided non-certified subcontractors’ activities are limited to the certified project site.
Organisations can choose the certification approach that best suits their activities: individual project certification, for a single construction project, or multi-project sourcing certification, a continuous system covering multiple projects under one project sourcing management system. Small and medium-sized enterprises can also gain certification through a dedicated group certification model, making certification more accessible and cost-effective.
Standards and guidance:
Find Out
More
The full set of normative documents is available under
To apply for certification under the MTCS, visit
Certification Bodies seeking PEFC notification to operate under the MTCS can find the relevant requirements and application process under