However, Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) chairman K Yogeesvaran said there is still a need to create yet more demand on the local front as the requisite for certification has traditionally been influenced by international markets.

“Whenever we certify, there is a cost,” he told reporters at an event to commemorate MTCC’s 20th anniversary here last night.

“If organisations export to Europe, they will apply for certification. If they don’t export, they won’t apply for certification.

“We should not be certifying just because of the market; we should be certifying because we want to conserve our forests, and we want our forests to be well-managed.”

Currently, timber exported to Europe requires certification under the EU Timber Regulation.

The regulation, which has been in effect since March 2013, aims to reduce illegal logging by ensuring that no illegal timber or timber products can be sold in the EU market.

Illegal timber refers to timber harvested without compliance with local laws in the country of production.

Nonetheless, Yogeesvaran remained optimistic, saying: “People are beginning to think about that (certification) because the world is changing.”

MTCC chief executive Yong Teng Koon said timber organisations applying for certification would need to reach a minimum standard of sustainability in three aspects: social, environmental and economic.

“Our certified forests are subjected to auditing to ensure that their management practices are aligned with the set standards,” he added.

MTCC is an independent national body tasked with developing and operating the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme.

The scheme provides an independent assessment of sustainable forest management practices.

MTCC also audits timber and timber product manufacturers and exporters to ensure that their sources are certified as sustainably managed forests.