Public consultation: Austrian forest certification system

9 July 2024 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the Austrian Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 6 September. Give your feedback.

PEFC Austria revised the country’s national forest certification system to ensure its forest management standard is up-to-date and continues to meet stakeholder demands and expectations. 

See all system assessment details

The Austrian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this assessment to maintain its PEFC endorsement. 

An important aspect of the assessment process is the public consultation. Over the sixty-day consultation, stakeholders from around the world can give their comments and provide feedback on any aspect of the system. The Registered Assessor will use the information received from this consultation in their assessment of the system.

Give your feedback

Need more information?

To provide you with additional information about this revised system, we held a webinar on 8 July at 10:00 CEST. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in Austria

PEFC Austria was among the first members to join PEFC in June 1999. Its national forest certification system was endorsed in 2000, with re-endorsements in 2006, 2011, and 2018. There are currently just over 3.3 million hectares of PEFC-certified forest area in the country.

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Maintaining endorsements

For a national system to maintain its endorsement, it must meet a series of endorsement milestones. These milestones are linked to the national periodic review of the system and the sustainable forest management standard.

National systems go through a periodic review five years after their national approval (first endorsement milestone). The periodic review includes a gap analysis, public consultation and consideration of feedback received while the standard is in force.

National approval of the Austrian forest certification standard: 27 May 2024

Find out more about PEFC ensures national standards continue to meet expectations.