OREANDA-NEWS. November 13, 2010. Belarus plans to have its forest product certification system approved by the European board of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) in 2010, the Forest Ministry said in a statement.

Belarus has so far had only the sustainable forest management system PEFC-certified (until 2015). The Belarusian forest product standard corresponds to the PEFC standard in many ways, however, the national standard must be certified by the PEFC European Council.

“After long discussions it was decided to adopt the PEFC European standard as a preliminary national standard STB P. The recognition by the PEFC board is expected this year,” the statement reads.

Belarus has 6,140.8 hectares of PEFC-certified forests, and all the 65 certificates issued by the national certification system are recognized by PEFC.