Since April 17, 2025, PEFC-certified players in France have had to comply with a revised set of standards that reinforce the requirements for sustainable forest management. This change, which has been expected for several months, marks a turning point for forest owners, operators, managers and forestry contractors involved in the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC). Changes to the label, which guarantees that a product contains a minimum of 70% material from sustainably-managed forests, will take place progressively in the field until September 25, 2026.
A response to climatic and regulatory requirements
According to PEFC France, this revision is the response to a two-fold evolution: on the one hand, the acceleration of climate and environmental issues; on the other, the growing demand for wood products with increased demands for traceability and sustainability.
The new standard was drawn up in consultation with over 110 organizations within the PEFC Forum, and takes account of the requirements of the European regulation against deforestation (RDUE), now integrated into the French system.
What concrete developments?
The new standard includes over 100 requirements, structured around 31 commitments. Among the notable changes, PEFC introduces stricter restrictions on the use of chemical products, reinforces the obligation to conserve dead wood and old trees, and provides a tighter framework for clear-cutting, notably through the introduction of a diagnosis justifying any excess surface area. The notion of forest transformation is defined and regulated, while species diversification is explicitly reinforced. The standard also extends its obligations to agroforestry areas, previously only partially covered.
The landscape approach is also reviewed, with a clarification of so-called sensitive areas and implications for silvicultural planning.
Moreover, maintaining the forest-wildlife balance is now associated with precise means, in order to align the management of animal populations with silvicultural objectives.
Another significant change is the introduction of areas of high ecological value as a structuring element in the conservation strategy for certified territories.
The transition phase, which runs until September 25, 2026, should enable everyone to adjust their practices while ensuring the continuity of certification. PEFC, which has been present in France since 1999, claims to cover more than 84,000 owners and 3,300 companies in mainland France and French Guiana.
