resources
PFS Standard Parts I, II and III
PFS Standard Part I
Part I provides specification for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals for forest owners, both in relation to a project and a project reporting period. While ISO 14064-1 may also be used, PFS Standard Part I is specifically designed and applicable to forests growing in New Zealand.
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PFS Standard I - Development history
First published:
22nd July 2024
Status:
v2 Active since 1st August 2025
v1 Active since 22nd July 2024
Authors:
PFS Certification Ltd
VVB Assessment Report(s):
v2 SGS 21st July 2025
v1 SGS 8th July 2024
Summary of Changes:
Version Number – Amend: 2
Date of Posting – Amend: 30th April 2025
Header – Amend: PFS Standard Part I: 2025
Footer – Amend: Version number: V2 Date of posting: 30th April 2025
Contents Page – Justification and colour for consistency
Brackets changed from a) to (a) for consistency
Chapter One, Point 3 – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-030, PFS-IB-501 and PFS-IB-045 shall be followed.
Chapter One, Point 4, b – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-301 and PFS-IB-401 shall be followed,
Chapter One, Point 11 – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-302 and PFS-IB-403 shall be followed.
Chapter Three – Removed: NZCCP. Changed IC-VCB to IC-VCM
Chapter Three – Amend: To Read - The PFS Standard is registered copyright No: 1-12421386191.
Chapter Four: Approved Forest Manager reference changed to PFS-IB-001, Part A(g)
Chapter Four: Project Forest - removal of part of sentence ....”but does not include a forest that is not eligible for ETS registration as referred to in PFS-IB-022".
Chapter Eight, Point 3 – Amend: To Read - The Project Reporting Period shall be 3 years, or such other period or PFS agrees, not exceeding any period allowed by the UNFCCC, it’s Supervisory Body or COP, or by CORSIA, as applicable.
Chapter Eight, Point 5 – Amend: To Read - All GHGs other than CO2 shall be converted to CO2 using an appropriate IPCC GWP and the GWP timeline shall be 100 years, unless the Paris Agreement otherwise allows.
Dates of Public Consultation:
16th June 2025 to 7th July 2025
Please click here to view PFS Standard Part I v1
PFS Standard for best practice for SB methodologies
Standard for proof forestry CO2 removals to prove clear and appropriate consistency with UNFCCC SB methodologies
PFS SB Methodologies Standard “Best Practice for verifying forestry CO2 removals prove clear and appropriate consistency with the principles and essential requirements of UNFCCC Supervisory Body’s A6.4 methodologies where strict compliance not possible”.
PFS Standard Part II
Part II provides for the best practise for proof forestry net CO2 captured also remains stored until 2100; specifying required standards of proof of legal and silviculture longevity, and climate risks, of net CO2 removals reported for the project and the project reporting period, until at least 2100.
Forests compliant with PFS Standard Part I or ISO 14064-1 can apply for certification under Part II.
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PFS Standard II - Development history
First published:
22nd July 2024
Status:
v2 Active since 1st August 2025
v1 Active since 22nd July 2024
Authors: PFS Certification Ltd
VVB Assessment Report(s):
v2 SGS 21st July 2025
v1 SGS 8th July 2024
Summary of Changes:
Version Number – Amend: 2
Date of Posting – Amend: 30th April 2025
Header – Amend: PFS Standard Part I: 2025
Footer – Amend: Version number: V2 Date of posting: 30th April 2025
Contents Page – Justification and colour for consistency
Chapter One, Point 3 – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-030, PFS-IB-501 and PFS-IB-045 shall be followed.
Chapter One, Point 4 – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-301 and PFS-IB-401 shall be followed.
Chapter One, Point 12 – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-302 and PFS-IB-402 shall be followed.
Chapter Three – Removed: NZCCP. Changed IC-VCB to IC-VCM
Chapter Three – Amend: To Read - The PFS Standard is registered copyright No: 1-12421386191.
Chapter Four: Approved Forest Manager reference changed to PFS-IB-001, Part A(g)
Chapter Four: Project Forest - removal of part of sentence ....”but does not include a forest that is not eligible for ETS registration as referred to in PFS-IB-022".
Chapter Four: GHG Statement updated – definition as per ISO-14064-3, clause 3.4.3 "factual and objective declaration that provides the subject matter for the verification or validation"
Chapter Eleven, Clause 2(c): Update chapter reference to 14 (not 13)
Chapter Twelve: Remove reference to IB-002 – there is no IB-002.
Chapter 17: updated improvement reference - "PFS is required to continually assess the need for improvements to this standard. Applicable principles have been validated by PFS’ VVB"
Chapter Eighteen, Clause 3: Removal of reference to IB-219.
Chapter Nineteen: Removal of reference to IB-218.
Dates of Public Consultation:
16th June 2025 to 7th July 2025
Please click here to view PFS Standard Part II v1
PFS Standard Part III
Part III primarily provides for a legal risk assessment for greenhouse gas statements for tonnes net CO2 forestry removals verified under Part II, or as otherwise allowed. It addresses legal risks in relation to express and implied statements or practises. Part III is intended to give confidence to emitters that express or implied representations are not deceptive or misleading.
Forests that have not applied for certification under Part II may, in suitable circumstances, apply for a positive legal risk assessment under Part III.
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First published:
31st July 2024
Status:
v2 Active since 1st August 2025
v1 Active since 31st July 2024
Authors:
PFS Certification Ltd
VVB Assessment Report(s):
v2 SGS 21st July 2025
v1 SGS 8th July 2024
Summary of Changes:
Version Number – Amend: 2
Date of Posting – Amend: 30th April 2025
Header – Amend: PFS Standard Part I: 2025
Footer – Amend: Version number: V2 Date of posting: 30th April 2025
Contents Page – Justification and colour for consistency
Chapter One, Point 3 – Amend: To Read - PFS-IB-030, PFS-IB-044 and PFS-IB-045 shall be followed.
Chapter One, Point 12 and 13 amended to read:
12. Availability of Information
All appropriate GHG related information shall be made available to an Applicant and Interested Persons in the PFS-IB-000 series to enable them to understand and follow the process and methodology applied to enable a GHG Statement to obtain a positive risk assessment under this Part II. PFS-IB-302 and PFS-IB-402 shall be followed.
13. Current and Future Versions of PFS Standard
PFS-IB-042 shall be followed.
Chapter Three – Removed: NZCCP. Changed IC-VCB to IC-VCM
Chapter Three – Amend: To Read - The PFS Standard is registered copyright No: 1-12421386191.
Chapter Four: Approved Forest Manager reference changed to PFS-IB-001, Part A(g)
Chapter Four: GHG Statement updated – definition as per ISO-14064-3, clause 3.4.3 "Factual and objective declaration that provides the subject matter for the verification or validation.”
Chapter Four: Project Forest - removal of part of sentence ....”but does not include a forest that is not eligible for ETS registration as referred to in PFS-IB-022".
Chapter Six, Point 6.2 – Amend: To Read - “X has removed or will remove Y tonnes CO2 from the atmosphere and can prove with reasonable confidence that such removals will not be reversed before 2100”.
Chapter 9: updated improvement reference - "PFS is required to continually assess the need for improvements to this standard. Applicable principles have been validated by PFS’ VVB"
Chapter 10. 1(c) Changed to Green Claims Directive
Dates of Public Consultation:
16th June 2025 to 7th July 2025
Please click here to view PFS Standard Part III: v1
PFS Standard for best practice for SB methodologies
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v1 Still Current