Public consultation: Belgian forest certification system

5 October 2022 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the revised Belgian Forest Certification System. Deadline for comments is 1 December.

PEFC Belgium revised the country’s national forest certification system following the entry into force of the revised 2018 PEFC Sustainable Forest Management standard. Please note that the system revision and standard only apply to the Walloon region of Belgium.

See all system assessment details

The Belgian system was submitted to PEFC after being revised in line with PEFC requirements. The national 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.

Need more information?

To provide you with additional information about this revised national system, we held a webinar on 3 October at 10:00 CEST. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in Belgium

Belgium joined PEFC in 1999, its national system was endorsed in 2002 and re-endorsed in 2008 and 2013. There are currently around 300,000 hectares of PEFC-certified forest area in the country.

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 Belgian forest certification standard: 7 April 2022

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