“FSC®”  “Forest Stewardship Council®”

What is FSC®? 

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) was established in 1993 in response to growing concerns about global deforestation. It is an independent, international non-profit organisation that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. 

FSC® certification focuses on: 

• Protection of biodiversity 

• Conservation of high conservation value forests 

• Respect for indigenous peoples' rights 

• Fair treatment of workers and local communities 

• Long-term forest management planning 

Forests certified under FSC® are independently audited against strict environmental, social and economic criteria.

FSC® is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.
Established in 1993 as a response to concerns over global deforestation, FSC® is a pioneer forum where the global consensus on responsible forest management convenes and through democratic process effects solutions to the pressures facing the world’s forests and forest-dependent communities.
Within this forum, voices from the Global North and South, from organizations big and small, assemble to define environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management and identify the tools and resources that will effect positive, lasting change.

As a multi-stakeholder organization, FSC® applies the directive of its membership to develop forest management and chain of custody standards, deliver trademark assurance and provide accreditation services to a global network of committed businesses, organizations and communities.
FSC® certification provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.

We received our FSC® certificate in 1999 and our FSC® License number is : FSC®-C018601

FSC® timber comes from well managed forests, independently certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council A.C.

Please always check our scope on FSC.org

What is PEFC? 

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. PEFC works by recognising and endorsing national forest certification systems that meet internationally accepted sustainability requirements. 

PEFC certification focuses on: 

• Sustainable forest management 

• Protection of biodiversity 

• Long-term forest productivity 

• Compliance with legal requirements 

• Responsible management of forest resources 

Thanks to its chain of custody system, PEFC enables companies and consumers to identify products sourced from responsibly managed forests.

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification.
PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. Thanks to its eco-label, customers and consumers are able to identify products from sustainably managed forests.
PEFC is an umbrella organization. It works by endorsing national forest certification systems developed through multi-stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions.

Vandecasteele Houtimport received their PEFC certificate in 2005 and their PEFC License number is PEFC/07-32-04

The standard is PEFC ST 2002:2020
We are involved and committed to implementing and maintaining the chain of custody according to standard ST2002.

International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) is an International Phytosanitary Measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that directly addresses the need to treat wood materials of a thickness greater than 6mm, used to ship products between countries. Its main purpose is to prevent the international transport and spread of disease and insects that could negatively affect plants or ecosystems. ISPM 15 affects all wood packaging material (pallets, crates, dunnages, etc.) requiring that they be debarked and then heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and stamped or branded,[1] with a mark of compliance. This mark of compliance is colloquially known as the "wheat stamp". Products exempt from the ISPM 15 are made from alternative material, like paper, plastic or wood panel products (i.e. OSB, hardboard, and plywood).

Download here our ISPM 15 certificate in PDF format (1MB)

OLB (Origin ad Legality of Timber) Certification

Sustainable management is the only way to preserve tropical forests and increase their economic value for the local population by providing development opportunities for many villages.

The O.L.B. System (Origin and Legality of Wood) was developed by Bureau Veritas Certification in 2004, following requests from customers wishing to obtain an official certificate and third party regarding the legality of their timber.
 This system is based on:

• a certificate for operators/managers forest.

• a chain of custody for the industrialists and traders.

The certificate of wood legality is based on the respect of the referential for the certification of forest companies. This document outlines the steps to meet on compliance with laws relating to the management and the exploitation of wood, employment and personal security, respect for the environment. It also deals broadly with the issues of traceability of timber within the company till the saling or the initial processing.

Certification of processing and trading wood companies is based on the respect for the chain of control repository. This document outlines the steps to meet for the right to use the OLB brand product business.

Certificate number Vandecasteele Houtimport: OLB-CERT/COC-190514

CE-marking is the manufacturer's declaration that a product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental

protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called Product Directives. For wood products it is the Construction Products Directive (CPD) that sets the

requirements. In general CE-marking is a mean for free access for the product in the European Economic Area. It is not a quality mark, but depending on the use

of the product, some quality aspects may be included in the CE-marking. As of the 1st of July 2013, all construction products that are produced and labelled with 

the CE marking must comply with European legislation called CPR. This CPR involves a ‘Declaration of Performance’, which is also called a performance certificate.

For structural timber, the harmonized standard is NBN EN 14081-1

Download here our CE certificat for structural timber

For cladding, the harmonized standard is NBN EN 14915-2013

Download here our CE certificat for cladding

Vandecasteele Houtimport – Certified for Chain of Custody and Due Diligence System under the Preferred by Nature Programme

Vandecasteele Houtimport has achieved certification under the Preferred by Nature Certification Programme, specifically for the scope of Chain of Custody (CoC) and the Due Diligence System (DDS). This certification demonstrates the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing and full traceability of forest-based products, in alignment with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The certification is based on compliance with the following standards:

• PBN-02 System Requirements V1.4 – outlining the overarching framework for implementing sustainability and traceability systems.

• PBN-03 DDS Requirements V1.4 – detailing the structure and operational expectations of a robust Due Diligence System, including risk assessment and mitigation procedures.

• PBN-05 CoC Standard V1.4 – specifying the requirements for maintaining Chain of Custody, ensuring that certified materials are properly tracked through each stage of the supply chain.

• PBN-13 EUDR Indicators V1.5 (March 2025) – providing specific indicators to demonstrate conformity with the EU Deforestation Regulation, including geolocation data, legality verification, and deforestation-free sourcing.

Through this certification, Vandecasteele Houtimport ensures that all relevant forest and tree-based materials are:

• Deforestation-free, meaning they are not sourced from land subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020.

• Legally produced, in accordance with applicable national laws.

• Fully traceable, with documented geolocation, production dates, and supplier information.

• Covered by a Due Diligence Statement, as required under the EUDR.

This certification not only supports regulatory compliance but also enhances market confidence by demonstrating proactive environmental stewardship and responsible supply chain management. It positions Vandecasteele Houtimport as a leader in sustainable timber sourcing, aligned with both EU legislation and global sustainability goals.

The certificate number of Vandecasteele Houtimport is PBNC-031701.

Check here the validity of our certificate

The management hereby declares that it will follow the requirements of the CoC-PEFC standard and that it will make the necessary resources available for this.

Download our RPP

TDUK’s Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) is a risk management framework for the continuous improvement of members’ awareness, understanding and capacity for meeting the UK Timber Regulation (UKTR), UK Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and TDUK Code of Conducts - 31 March 2024

The audit is carried out by Soil Association UK.

We are member of the ThermoWood® Association.

Download here the LCA and EDP from the ETTF