Our Services
Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) – PRAMAAN
The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) – PRAMAAN aims to encourage sustainable forest and agroforestry management, along with responsible practices within India’s wood-based industries. The scheme provides market-based incentives to organizations that meet the requirements set under IFWCS, supporting environmentally responsible and socially accountable operations.
About IFWCS – PRAMAAN
IFWCS PRAMAAN certifications are built on a robust framework of criteria and indicators that evaluate forest divisions, plantations, and agroforestry systems against internationally recognized sustainability benchmarks, while remaining specifically aligned with Indian conditions and regulatory frameworks.
Types of Certifications under IFWCS – PRAMAAN
IFWCS PRAMAAN offers three categories of certification:
- Forest Management (FM) Certification
Applicable to recorded forest areas and forest plantations, in accordance with the Indian Forest Management Standard. - Trees Outside Forests (TOF) Management Certification
Designed for agroforestry systems and private plantations, aligned with the Trees Outside Forests (Management) Standard. - Chain of Custody (CoC) Management Certification
Ensures full traceability of timber and non-timber forest products at every stage of the supply chain, from the point of origin to the final consumer.
Given below are the main steps for certification:
- Application Submission: Representatives of the client fill out an application or provide a request for proposal to undergo the certification evaluation process.
- Project Proposal: GIPL evaluates the application and prepares an audit plan and proposal, including the costs and a timeline for the evaluation process. The work order including quotation is sent to the applicant and on its acceptance, agreement is prepared and sent to the applicant. The applicant then authorizes the work order, signs the agreement and the certification process begins.
- On-Site Audit: The audit team conducts an on-site audit to determine if the applicant’s management system is being implemented in conformity with the standards.
- Sharing of CAR Form Draft Report:
- Corrective Action Request (CAR) form will be shared with the client within ten (10) days from the day of audit closing meeting.
- Draft report will be shared with the client within 45 days from the day of audit closing meeting.
- Client will have 30 days to review the report for any factual accuracy.
- Final Report: Report will be finalized within 75 days from the date of the audit closing meeting.
- Decision: Based on the recommendations from audit team leader, the Technical reviewer shall decide and approve certificate issuance.
- Grant of Certificate: Certificate is granted if all the requirements have been fulfilled and the certification agreement has been signed.
- Issuance of Certificate: Certificate is issued if all the requirements are met, with validity of five (5) years subjected to four annual surveillance audits. The certificate would contain the following information:
- GIPL and its office address
- Date of certification granted and its validity (Please note: The date of certificate granted shall not precede the date on which the certification decision was completed);
- The name and address (s) of the client;
- Product(s);
- Scope of certification;
- normative standards reference
- signatures and credentials of the authorized personel from GIPL.
- Same procedure is followed for re-evaluation audit except for requirement of – Application form, Proposal (unless required by the client).
- Client will have 30 days to review the report for any factual accuracy.