Cerflor Forest Certification Programme: Brazil

1. Understand the applicable standard: Determine whether your operation requires Forest Management (FM) certification, Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, or both. Review the relevant Cerflor standards (ABNT NBR 14789 for FM or ABNT NBR 14790 for CoC) available through ABNT or INMETRO.

1. Conduct a gap analysis: Assess your current forest management practices, documentation systems, and operational records against Cerflor standard requirements. Identify areas needing improvement before applying.

1. Implement corrective measures: Address any gaps identified — this may include updating forest management plans, improving environmental monitoring, strengthening worker safety protocols, or formalizing chain of custody tracking systems.

1. Select an INMETRO-accredited certification body: Choose a certification body accredited by INMETRO to conduct Cerflor audits. Request a quote and agree on an audit schedule. A list of accredited bodies is available on the INMETRO website.

1. Submit application and documentation: Provide the certification body with required documentation, including forest management plans, environmental impact assessments, operational records, legal compliance evidence, and stakeholder consultation records.

1. Undergo the audit: The certification body will conduct a document review followed by on-site field audits of your forest operations. Auditors will assess conformity with Cerflor standards across ecological, social, and economic criteria.

1. Address non-conformities: If the auditors identify non-conformities, implement corrective actions within the agreed timeframe and provide evidence of resolution to the certification body.

1. Receive certification and use the marks: Upon successful audit, receive your Cerflor certificate and the right to use the Cerflor and PEFC marks on certified products. Maintain conformity through annual surveillance audits and a full recertification audit every five years.

Cerflor evaluates forest operations against two primary standards developed by ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards): ABNT NBR 14789 for Forest Management and ABNT NBR 14790 for Chain of Custody.

Forest Management (ABNT NBR 14789) assessment covers three broad dimensions: ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Ecological criteria include biodiversity conservation, protection of high conservation value areas, soil and water resource management, control of invasive species, and minimization of environmental impacts from harvesting operations. Social criteria evaluate compliance with Brazilian labor law, worker health and safety, community relations, respect for indigenous and traditional community rights, and stakeholder consultation processes. Economic criteria assess the long-term viability and productivity of the forest operation, legal tenure and land use rights, and compliance with Brazilian forest legislation including the Forest Code.

Chain of Custody (ABNT NBR 14790) certification evaluates the systems used to track certified forest material through the supply chain — from the forest gate through processing, manufacturing, and to the final product. Assessors review input/output tracking systems, percentage-based or physical separation methods, labeling procedures, and record-keeping practices to ensure that certified claims on products are accurate and verifiable.

Both certification types require documented management systems, evidence of legal compliance, and records demonstrating ongoing conformity. Auditors also assess the organization's internal audit systems and capacity to self-monitor conformity between external surveillance audits.

Cerflor is Brazil's national forest certification scheme and one of the most significant in Latin America, given Brazil's position as a global leader in planted forest production — particularly eucalyptus and pine for pulp, paper, and timber. Established in 2002 and endorsed by PEFC International in 2005, Cerflor provides Brazilian forest operators with a nationally tailored certification pathway that also carries international recognition in PEFC-member markets across Europe, Asia, and North America.

As of recent estimates, Cerflor has certified several million hectares of Brazilian forest, predominantly in the planted forest sector dominated by major pulp and paper companies such as Suzano, Klabin, and Eldorado Brasil. The scheme is less prevalent among small and medium landowners and community forests, where the cost and complexity of third-party audits can be prohibitive. In the native forest sector, FSC tends to dominate due to its stronger international brand recognition among NGOs and premium buyers.

Cerflor competes primarily with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification in Brazil. FSC holds a stronger reputation among international environmental NGOs and certain high-end retail buyers, while Cerflor is often preferred by large Brazilian industrial forestry operations due to its alignment with Brazilian legal frameworks and its INMETRO accreditation infrastructure. Demand for both schemes is growing as Brazilian exporters face increasing sustainability scrutiny from European buyers under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which came into force in 2023 and requires due diligence on forest-risk commodities. This regulatory pressure is expected to drive increased uptake of credible forest certification in Brazil over the coming years.

Cerflor (Programa Brasileiro de Certificação Florestal) was established in 2002 through a collaborative initiative led by INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality) and ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), with support from the Brazilian forest sector and government agencies. The program was developed in response to growing international demand for credible, third-party verified sustainable forestry credentials, and to provide a nationally appropriate alternative to international schemes that Brazilian industry felt did not adequately reflect the country's unique forest management context — particularly its large planted forest sector.

A major milestone came in 2005 when Cerflor was endorsed by PEFC International (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), granting Cerflor-certified products access to PEFC's global network of mutual recognition across more than 50 national certification schemes. This endorsement significantly enhanced Cerflor's international market credibility. The program has since grown to cover millions of hectares of Brazilian planted forests, primarily eucalyptus and pine plantations operated by large pulp and paper companies. Ongoing revisions to the underlying ABNT standards have kept Cerflor aligned with evolving international best practices in sustainable forest management and chain of custody tracking.