Guidance

Timber certification schemes (Category A evidence): evaluation criteria

This framework sets out how we review schemes approved as ‘Category A evidence’ to check for compliance.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 27 February 2025

Documents

Criteria for evaluating forest certification schemes (Category A evidence), 5th edition

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Defra is currently reviewing the UK government’s Timber Procurement Policy (TPP), including assessing certification schemes.

Stakeholders are invited to submit evidence of certification schemes’ compliance with the TPP. Comments can be submitted using the online survey until 30 March 2025. 

This document sets out the criteria used by UK government to evaluate forest certification schemes. The criteria were updated in February 2025. 

There are a number of timber certification schemes available. UK government uses this framework to assess if a scheme provides evidence that it meets the requirements for legal and sustainable timber sources.

Published 27 February 2025