What FSC and PEFC are
FSC and PEFC are independent, voluntary schemes that certify forests as responsibly managed and track certified timber through the supply chain.
- FSC – Forest Stewardship Council – sets global standards for forest management and chain of custody, applied through national standards (FSC).
- PEFC – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification – endorses national forest certification schemes that meet its benchmarks. In Australia, the PEFC-endorsed scheme is run by Responsible Wood (PEFC, Responsible Wood).
Both are widely used for European oak, and both are recognised by architects, developers and green building rating tools. Neither is a legal requirement in itself.
| FSC | PEFC | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Global standard-setter | Umbrella that endorses national schemes |
| Australian body | FSC Australia | Responsible Wood (PEFC-endorsed) |
| Certifies | Forest management and chain of custody | Forest management and chain of custody |
| How to verify | FSC public certificate search | PEFC certified-company search |
| Legal requirement? | No – voluntary | No – voluntary |
Two kinds of certificate
Forest management certification applies to the forest; chain of custody certification applies to each business that buys, processes or sells the timber. You need both links for a floor to be sold as certified.
| Certificate | Who holds it | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Forest management (FM) | Forest owner or manager | The forest is managed to the scheme's standard |
| Chain of custody (CoC) | Sawmill, manufacturer, importer, distributor, retailer that takes legal ownership | Certified material is tracked and claims are accurate |
How chain of custody works
A certified claim can only pass along the supply chain while every business that takes legal ownership of the product holds a valid CoC certificate. If one business in the chain isn't certified, the chain is broken and the product can no longer be sold with a certified claim from that point on – even if the timber originally came from a certified forest.
In practice:
- The certified forest sells logs with a claim.
- Each CoC-certified business (sawmill, flooring manufacturer, exporter, importer, distributor) records the claim on its sales documents.
- The final seller's invoice shows the claim (for example an FSC or PEFC claim category) and its certificate code.
- The buyer can check the code in the public database.
Businesses that install but don't resell the product (for example a contractor working on a client's own materials) may not need CoC, but if you resell certified flooring and want to pass the claim on, you'll need your own certificate. The scheme rules decide – check with the scheme or a certification body.
How to check a claim
Check the invoice, then check the database. A logo on a box or website is not enough.
- Is there a certification claim on the invoice for the specific product?
- Is there a certificate code, and is it the seller's own code?
- Is the certificate valid in the FSC or PEFC database?
- Does the certificate scope cover the product type (for example solid wood flooring)?
What to ask Timbo
Ask Timbo, per order, what certification information is available. Timbo doesn't make blanket certification claims on this website; availability can depend on the product and the batch. Email partnerships@timbo.com.au with the product, quantity and what your client or specifier needs. If a project requires certified flooring, raise it before ordering – not at handover.
You can also ask for the other documentation that often sits alongside certification: species and harvest-country information for legality, and any product data for the specification. See illegal logging laws and timber flooring.
Certification vs legal requirements
Certification is voluntary; legality is not. In Australia, importers of regulated timber products must comply with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012, as reformed with Rules in force from 3 March 2025 (DAFF). In the EU, the EUDR applies from 30 December 2026 (Council of the EU). Certification can support due diligence under both, but doesn't replace them. See EUDR and European oak.
| Question | Certification (FSC/PEFC) | Legal requirement (AU ILP Act, EUDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory? | No | Yes, for regulated businesses |
| Who sets it? | Independent scheme | Government |
| Evidence | Claim + certificate code on invoice | Due diligence records |
| Does one replace the other? | No | No |
Why it matters when specifying oak
For architects and developers, certification is often a project requirement or a rating-tool credit – so it has to be specified and documented, not assumed. Put the requirement in the specification (for example "FSC or PEFC certified, with chain of custody claim and certificate code on the supplier's invoice") and check availability with the supplier during design. Our architects' specification guide includes a sample clause, and designers and architects can request samples and product information.
Some green building rating tools recognise certified timber; the rating tool's own rules govern the evidence. For more on the product itself, see European oak floorboards and oak flooring grades – note that grade (appearance) and certification (sourcing) are completely separate.
Common misunderstandings
Most certification confusion comes from treating a logo, a forest or a company as proof for a specific product. Watch for these:
- "The forest is certified, so the floor is." Not unless every owner in between holds chain of custody.
- "The company is certified, so everything it sells is." A CoC certificate covers certain products, and only items sold with a claim on the invoice are certified.
- "European oak is always certified." It depends on the supply chain – check each order.
- "Certified means engineered or solid." Certification says nothing about construction; see solid vs engineered oak.
Sources
- Forest Stewardship Council: fsc.org
- PEFC – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification: pefc.org
- Responsible Wood (PEFC-endorsed scheme in Australia): responsiblewood.org.au
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Illegal logging: agriculture.gov.au
- Council of the EU – EUDR revision and postponement: consilium.europa.eu
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FSC and PEFC?
Both certify responsible forest management and chain of custody. FSC is a single global standard-setter; PEFC is an umbrella organisation that endorses national schemes – in Australia, the PEFC-endorsed scheme is administered by Responsible Wood. Both are widely recognised.
What is chain of custody certification?
Chain of custody (CoC) certification checks that a business keeps certified material identified and separated (or properly accounted for) as it moves through its operations. Every legal owner in the chain needs CoC for the final product to carry a certified claim.
Is Timbo's oak FSC or PEFC certified?
Ask Timbo for your order. Timbo will tell you what certification information is available for that order and won't make a certified claim it can't support with documents.
How do I check if an FSC or PEFC claim is genuine?
Does certified timber mean it is legal?
Certification includes legality requirements and is useful evidence, but it doesn't replace an importer's legal due diligence obligations under Australia's illegal logging laws.
Can a project get Green Star or similar credits for certified timber?
Some rating tools recognise certified timber. The rating tool's own rules decide what evidence is accepted, usually including chain of custody documentation – check with the project's sustainability consultant.