The Finnish Forest Certification System was first endorsed in 2000 and has been re-endorsed a further three times. The system maintained its endorsement in December 2022. 

System elements

Endorsement milestones

To maintain its PEFC endorsement, the system must meet specific endorsement milestones. The first milestone is the start of the periodic review within five years of the national approval of the sustainable forest management standard.

• National approval date: 16 February 2022
• Review date: 16 February 2027
  

2022/23 system assessment

• Status: Assessment finished, system endorsement maintained 
• Type: Revised system (maintaining the endorsement)
• Assessment Report
• Assessor: CK Services
• System submitted for assessment: 28 February 2022
• Consultation: 14 March - 12 May 2022

Watch the recording of the webinar to find out more about this national system.

System history

• Re-endorsed: 15 December 2022
• Re-endorsed: 17 August 2015
• Re-endorsed: 28 July 2010
• Re-endorsed: 7 March 2005
• Endorsed: 24 May 2000
• Joined PEFC: 30 June 1999

PEFC Finland

History before PEFC 

The development of the Finnish Forest Certification System (FFCS) started in the mid-1990s. After the examination of the contents of the certification and the possible roles of different actors in 1996, the forest certification standard working group (involving various stakeholders) adopted a certification scheme proposal for sustainable forest management and use in Finland in 1997.

The certification system was expanded and in 1999 preparations were made for forest certification by developing data collection, communication and training.

The Finnish national forest certification system received approval from the international PEFC Council in 2000.

Until 1999, the Finnish Forest Certification System was managed by an Advisory Board. In 2000, the Finnish Forest Certification Council was established to continue the board’s work and since 2008 the Council has been called PEFC Finland – Finnish Forest Certification Council.

The name "PEFC Finland" and the code "PEFC FI" were initially used alongside the name "FFCS", until they replaced it in 2009.

What are the benefits of being part of the PEFC alliance?

PEFC’s well-balanced international requirements for sustainable forest management form a good basis for the production of national criteria in multi-stakeholder processes. 

Finland is primarily an exporting country of forest industry products. The primary motive for certification for forest owners, forest industry companies and the entire value chain, is its impact on the demand for products made of Finnish wood in international markets, and thus on the demand for wood in Finland. PEFC certification is a tool to present a positive image of Finnish forest use and management internationally.

Widespread PEFC group certification has brought forestry sector operators together in Finland to discuss the practices and criteria for responsible forest management and use. PEFC has proven to fit well to Finnish forestry conditions. At the moment 90 per cent of forests in Finland are PEFC-certified.

PEFC certification has a broader impact on the Finnish society than just the forestry-related certification criteria. Forests are an important environment for recreation for Finnish people and an important part of nature tourism. The vast majority of Finnish people enjoys outdoor activities and a great deal of these activities take place in PEFC certified forest areas. In addition to free access to Finnish forests according to the Everyman’s right one can freely collect berries and mushrooms in forests.