Metrosert is a recognised forest management certifier under the PEFC rules. Metrosert certifies:

• Forest management through the individual certification of the forest owner’s activities
• Forest management, using regional or group certification

A certificate issued by Metrosert certifies that the forest manager has implemented and operates in accordance with the requirements of PEFC and the Estonian Forest Certification Standard.

A list of organisations certified by Metrosert

BASIC DOCUMENTS OF CERTIFICATION

• The PEFC rules
• The Estonian Forest Certification Standard

STAGES OF CERTIFICATION

Offer request

The volume of work related to certification is calculated in audit days, based on the size and location of the certified forest land and, in the case of group certification, the number of the forest owners to be certified. A certification agreement is concluded with the organisation that has agreed to the offer.

Forest management certification offer request

Certification audit

A certification audit for verifying the conformity with standards is conducted by a competent team. A certification audit consists of two stages. In the 1st stage of the audit, the sufficiency of documentation is assessed, and any possible ambiguities are resolved. A report is presented concerning the 1st stage of the audit, together with a description of the irregularities found.

The 2nd stage of the certification audit is conducted no later than 3 months after the 1st stage. The aim of the 2nd stage of the certification audit is to assess the implementation and efficiency of the Estonian Forest Management Standard by the forest owner. The agreed number of forest immovables are visited during the audit. The findings recorded in the course of the audit are analysed in conjunction with the forest owner. The process outlines the impact of the findings on the efficiency of the customer’s activities. The result of the certification audit is presented to the customer as a written report. The customer has up to 3 months to rectify the irregularities.

If the organisation fails to rectify the irregularities within 3 months from the certification audit, the certification process is discontinued and certification is refused. The customer is notified of the decision not to grant certification in writing, together with the reasons for the decision. If the customer wishes to continue the certification process, a new assessment process will commence.

Issuing certificates

A certificate is issued upon rectifying the irregularities found in the course of the certification audit. A certificate is valid for five years. During the validity of the certificate, the conformity of forest management with requirements is checked in regular supervisory audits. Certification and supervisory audit reports are also submitted to the Estonian Forest Certification Council (EMSN).

Supervisory audits

Supervisory audits during the validity of the certificate are held at an interval of 12 months. The result of the supervisory audit is presented to the customer as a written report. The customer has up to 3 months to rectify the irregularities found. New forest owners can be added to a group certificate in the course of a supervisory audit.

Renewal of certificates

The validity of an issued certificate can be extended after every five years. A new certification audit is conducted in order to extend the validity of a certificate.

Cancellation or suspension of a forest management certification

Metrosert may cancel or suspend a certificate, if:

• the customer has violated regulations on which the certification is based, or the terms and conditions of the certification agreement;
• the customer does not allow for the timely performance of supervisory audits;
• the customer has provided incorrect data upon certification or during supervision;
• the customer has failed to give notice of changes in its management system;
• the customer is unable to rectify the irregularities found in the course of an audit;
• the customer has incurred a financial debt to Metrosert;
• the customer’s organisation has discontinued its activities;
• the customer has submitted a respective request.

The validity of a certification may be suspended for good reason for 6 up to months (except for the first supervisory audit after initial certification). If the validity of the certification cannot be restored after 6 months have passed, the certification is cancelled.

Extension or restriction of the area of certification

Metrosert may restrict the extent of certification in the following cases:

• the customer is unable to rectify irregularities that have been classified as significant within the granted term;
• the customer has submitted a respective request.

If the customer is unable to rectify irregularities that have been classified as significant within the granted term, the suspension or restriction of the certification must be considered. A certification can be restricted in parts that do not affect the overall conformity of the certification issued to the customer with the certification requirements.
An organisation has the right to request the extension or restriction of the area of certification in the event of changes in products, processes, service or production location or in order to fulfil the requirements of another standard. Upon new sites being added, the sampling rules shall be added to the new sites independent of the number of the organisation’s certified sites, and the new sites shall be added to the others after certification.

In order to have the area of certification extended, the organisation submits the documentation concerning the area related to the extension. Metrosert assesses the conformity of the documentation with the data presented in the extension request and conducts an audit to the extent of the area of extension. In the case of a positive decision, a certificate with a new area of certification is issued.

Upon the area of certification being restricted, the valid certificate is cancelled and a certificate with a new area of certification is issued.

Short notice audits

Metrosert may, if necessary, carry out audits at short notice (up to three days) or without prior notice:

• to investigate complaints;
• to respond to changes that have taken place at the customer,
• for the follow-up check of a suspended certification.

The Head of the Certification Division appoints auditors to conduct such an audit. An audit is aimed at investigating the circumstances that called for the audit. Depending on the results of the audit, the certification institution decides on further action – the suspension, cancellation or restoration of certification.

Use of certificates

Customers who have been certified by Metrosert and hold a valid forest management certificate have the right to present the certificate e.g., on their website and in brochures, catalogues, offers or orders related to the organisation’s certified activities. A more detailed information about the use of certificates is available here.

METROSERT’S ACCREDITATIONS

Accreditation certificate MSC 001

 

FURTHER INFOMRATION

AS Metrosert’s Certification Division
sertifitseerimine@metrosert.ee