OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2011. During the 4th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Forest and Market Development held in Shanghai it was revealed that China will launch the first national forest certification standard for sustainable forest management in 2013, ITTO reported.

Zhang Yanhong, Deputy Director of the Department of Development Planning and Capital Management of the State Forest Service (SFA) said in an effort to eliminate illegal logging it is necessary to adopt an effective forest certification standard. It was reported that the SFA is working to develop China’s forest certification standard based on those of the FSC and Rainforest Alliance.

When implemented the system could be used to trace the entire supply chain, tracking timber and timber products from forest to mills, to manufacturers and traders and to end-users.