Give your feedback on the new PEFC RED III standards

28 February 2025 PEFC system news

Stakeholders globally are invited to give their feedback on the new PEFC RED III standards, developed to enable organisations to demonstrate compliance with RED III requirements and make RED III compliant declarations.

Please fill in this form to receive the link to the draft standards. Deadline for comments is 26 March 2025.

RED III and the transition from RED II to RED III

RED III, the European Union’s (EU) Renewable Energy Directive 2023/2413, is the revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (RED II Directive). RED III raises the overall target of the renewable energy shares and strengthens the sustainability criteria set out for biomass. 

RED III also tightens the requirements of data reporting throughout the supply chain and ensures the setup of the Union Database at the Commission level to collect data from organisations via recognised voluntary schemes.

The new PEFC RED III standards 

PEFC is recognised by the European Commission as one of the voluntary schemes that organisations can use to demonstrate their RED II compliance. Our scope covers forest ligno-cellulosic material, including residues and waste, and biomass fuels made of this material. 

Aligning with the transition from RED II to RED III, we have revised the PEFC RED II standards and developed the PEFC RED III standards:

• PEFC ST 5002, Additional requirements for organisations sourcing forest biomass – RED III
• PEFC ST 5003, Additional requirements for certification bodies providing certification against PEFC ST 5002 – RED III
• PEFC ST 5004, Requirements for the development of Level A risk assessments and its recognition by PEFC as per Article 29 (6a) and (7a) of the RED III Directive

Give your feedback now!

Give your feedback

With the drafts now developed, it is time for you to provide your feedback on these new standards through our public consultation.

The consultation is open until 26 March. Please fill in this form to receive the link to the draft standards. 

Public consultations are a vital part of the development process of our standards. They are when you get to read the draft, make your comments, and give direct feedback. Every comment made will get an answer.

If you have any queries, contact us at red@pefc.org.  

The standards at a glance

PEFC ST 5002, will enable organisations sourcing ligno-cellulosic material to use the PEFC certification scheme to demonstrate compliance with RED III. It is based on the PEFC Chain of Custody standard to make it easier for organisations to integrate the RED III requirements within their chain of custody processes and audits. Prospective PEFC RED III certified organisations will need to already hold a PEFC chain of custody certificate (or achieve it at the same time as their RED III certification).  

PEFC ST 5003 covers the requirements for certification bodies providing audits against ST 5002. It will enable PEFC chain of custody notified certification bodies to extend their notification to operate PEFC RED III certification. Similar to PEFC RED II, PEFC RED III audits will follow the ST 2003 requirements, with additional elements. PEFC ST 5003 also includes additional accreditation requirements.  

PEFC ST 5004 sets up the requirements for country or regional risk assessments against the RED III sustainability criteria conducted by an independent and competent in country-expert stakeholder or stakeholders, and the recognition of those risk assessments by PEFC.