PEFC is a global organization for the assessment and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. The PEFC is committed to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party forest certification. Theses national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management. The German Certification Scheme was endorsed by the Pan European Forest Certification Council on the July 31, 2000. This happend after rigorous assessment of the scheme by an independent consultatn, whose report concluded that the scheme met the requirements of the PEFCC. the PEFC Technical Documentation comprises the Technical Document, Annexes and Guidelines. The Technical Document includes the normative documentation for the development, elaboration and implementation of PEFC endorsed and mutually recognized forest certification schemes. The general part of the documentation presents the framework for the documentation and the normative requirements are listed in the respective Annexes and Guidelines. Every year, an appropriate percentage of the forest area which is part of the system of certification is controlled. The selection of the forest enterprises to be examined is area-weighted and is carried out randomly. The observance of the guidelines is examined with regard to the criteria of certification by means of the examination matrix. This matrix determines both the level of examination and the measures which will be due, if the guidelines are not observed. The sampling control system has to be effective both with regard to its size and practicability, in order to provide an economical system control system considers only those enterprises in each region who take part in the system of certification. They have to be previously informed of the contents and procedures of the sampling control system. At the end of the annual control samples, the certification authority informs the regional representatives of the results. The latter have the task of coordination the implementation of corrective measures and then of notifying the certification authority, if the measures agreed upon have been completed on time. If the PEFC office makes inquires, they are informed of the details of the examination and receive a copy of the final report.
