PEFC Poland
The Polish Forest Certification System was endorsed in 2008 and re-endorsed in 2015. The system maintained its endorsement in March 2023.
System elements
| Sustainable forest management standard | Yes |
| Sustainable forest management standard (plantation) | No |
| Sustainable forest management standard (trees outside forests) | No |
| Group certification requirements | Yes |
| Chain of custody requirements (PEFC International) | Yes |
| Certification body requirements for chain of custody (PEFC International) | Yes |
| Full system documentation | Yes |
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: 10 May 2022
- Review date: 10 May 2027
2022/23 system assessment
- Status: Assessment finished, system endorsement maintained
- Type: Revised system (maintaining the endorsement)
- Assessment Report
- Assessor: Form international
- System submitted for assessment: 14 May 2022
- Consultation: 27 June - 25 August 2022
Watch the recording of the webinar to find out more about this national system.
System history
- Re-endorsed: 28 March 2023
- Re-endorsed: 3 December 2015
- Endorsed: 11 March 2008
- Joined PEFC: 31 October 2003
PEFC Poland
History before PEFC
The Forest Research Institute was established in 1930 as an Experimental Station of the State Forests. In 1934 it was transformed into the Forest Research Institute of the State Forests and since 1945 it has been acting as the Forest Research Institute, currently being subordinated to the Minister of the Environment.
The beginnings of PEFC in Poland date back to 2003 when the PEFC Poland was established on the initiative of the State Forests at the Main Board of the Association of Foresters and Wood Technologists (SITLiD). SITLiD became a PEFC member with its headquarters in Luxembourg. In the same year, work on the Polish forestry certification system began, and in December 2003 the initial standards were presented.
The final audit report, which positively evaluates standards and recommends their adoption by PEFC, was published in November 2007 and a few months later, in March 2008, PEFC International officially recognized the Polish scheme.
From November 2009, on the base of a tripartite agreement of the Association of Foresters and Wood Technologists, Forest Research Institute and PEFC in Geneva, the PEFC Poland was affiliated to the Forestry Research Institute, which became the administrator of the PEFC scheme in Poland.