Third party certification

Third-party, independent validation and verification of sustainability is generally considered to be the gold standard basis for these claims and is made up of the following elements.

• Standard-setting: An independent standards-setting organization (PEFC, in the case of ATFS) develops the criteria for responsible forest management.
• Accreditation: A separate, independent auditing firm is accredited by an accreditation body to conduct audits and issue certificates which show conformance to the standards. These firms are also known as “certification bodies.”
• Certification: Entities meeting the Standards receive a certificate from a certification body after under-going an audit and demonstrating conformance successfully. If the entity cannot demonstrate conformance, it must take corrective actions before it can be certified.
• Auditing: The third-party auditor evaluates forest management for compliance with the standards before issuing a certificate. This usually includes site visits and management plan reviews and can also include a review of a certificate holder’s operations and consultation with stakeholders.
• Verification: Periodic re-verification and re-certification process are required to ensure that a certificate holder continues to manage their forests in accordance with the Standards.