Prior to 2003, there were no third party forest certification schemes operating in Australia. In early 2003 this changed when AS 4708-2003 The Australian Forestry Standard was published.
The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) provides the basis for an Australian certification scheme. Its development recognised unique aspects of Australia environment and key international certification criteria. It is structured to provide the basis for a formal and reliable system that can be used by accredited independent third party auditor to assess sustainable wood production.
The AFS incorporates forest management criteria that support sustainable timber production in Australia. A voluntary scheme, it is applicable to owners of native or plantation forest on public or private land. The standard was also designed to meet the certification and labelling requirements of both domestic and international markets. In mid 2003, mutual recognition of the AFS's processes by the Pan European Forest Certification Scheme is still in train.
The Australian Forestry Standard Steering Committee oversaw the development of the Australian Forestry Standard. It comprised of representatives of forest growers, industry, non-government and government organisations. Standards Australia endorsed the AFS Steering Committee's structures and processes and formally accredited it as a standards development organisation.
The Steering Committee was supported by a broad based Technical Reference Committee with representatives of indigenous people, environmental groups, forest owners, timber manufacturers; independent professional and scientific bodies; community and consumer interests; and regulatory or controlling bodies. In mid-2003, a registered company, AFS Ltd, took over the role of the Steering Committee but it retains a similar operating structure.
The Australian Forestry Standard has adopted the National Forest Policy definition of sustainable forest management which is; "The integration of commercial and non-commercial values of the forest so that both the material and non-material welfare of society is improved, whilst ensuring that the values of forests, both as a resource for commercial use and for conservation are not lost or degraded for current and future generations"
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