Certify your due diligence

Whether you operate at forest level or as an operator in a supply chain, demonstrate your ability to exclude illegal timber from your supply chains with LegalSource certification.

LegalSource certification helps you to meet market demands for legal timber assurance and legal requirements such as the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

If you are based in a timber exporting country, LegalSource certification helps you provide the assurance sought by buyers in regions where strict timber regulations apply.

LegalSource Trademark

As a LegalSource^TM certificate holder, you have earned access to the LegalSource label and claims. These visual markers create instant recognition for your commitment to legal timber sourcing.

The LegalSource trademarks

LS label The name LegalSource is a registered trademark owned by NEPCon. As a LegalSource certificate holder, you may use this trademark in promotional claims and statements, providing you comply with our trademark requirements.

You may also use the LegalSource Certified claim and label to promote products covered by your certificate or to underpin your organisation's commitment to legal timber sourcing.

Note: The LegalSource trademark is not eligible for on-product use.

Conditions for using the LegalSource trademarks

As a LegalSource certificate holder, you need to follow the LegalSource trademark requirements which cover graphic design and credible claims. These are set out in the LegalSource Claims & Communications Procedure.

Note: You need to submit materials including LegalSource trademarks to us for approval prior to any public use.

Get started

Key steps

To explore the option of engaging with us for monitoring services and receive a price offer, fill in our service request form or contact us. The further process is outlined below.

	Service scope: We will help you identify the scope of services you need. Our service proposal is based on this as well as on the size and complexity of your trade. Once you have accepted our offer, we will assign a NEPCon contact person for your organisation.
	Your preparation: You receive an information pack with resources and tools to help you prepare for certification. You set up and implement the free LegalSource Due Diligence System (DDS) or your own system. If you opt for training, we will equip you with know-how at this stage.
	On-site audit: We conduct an on-site visit at your facilities to verify your conformance with the LegalSource Standard. This includes a tour of your facilities, document reviews and staff interviews. The duration of the visit depends on your set-up and certification scope.
	Report: We prepare an evaluation report describing the strengths and weaknesses of your system. It includes structured feedback enabling you to identify and address any legal compliance issues.
	Certification: Based on positive outcome of a full LegalSource assessment, we issue a LegalSource certificate. You receive a resources pack including trademarks files and guidance supporting your use of the LegalSource claims and labels in public promotion.

Note: Only the first four steps above apply to both pre-assessment and full assessment. LegalSource certification (step five) can only be obtained based on a full assessment.

After your certification

After you have achieved LegalSource certification, you must undergo regular annual audits verifying your continued compliance. Note that additional audits may be required in some cases.

Your options

Scope of certification service

Before you enter a service agreement with us, we will assist you with information and guidance helping you to decide on the relevant scope of evaluation and your certification.

You need to choose whether you wish to engage in pre-assessment or full certification assessment. You also need to decide on which products and supply chains to include.
LS certificate

Pre-assessment: A LegalSource pre-assessment identifies important gaps in your systems and procedures. It can be used as a stand-alone service, or you can choose to move on to full assessment and prepare for LegalSource certification by addressing the identified gaps.
Full certification assessment: A comprehensive evaluation against all relevant criteria of the LegalSource Standard that forms the basis of LegalSource certification. You can engage in full assessment directly or following a pre-assessment.
Products and supply chains: You can choose to have any part of your trade covered by LegalSource certification. You may wish to only include selected product lines or products sourced from certain countries. If your trade needs to meet timber regulations, we recommend including all products and processes covered by legal requirements.

Note: Clients of our EUTR monitoring services need to include all parts of their trade covered by the EU Timber Regulation into the scope of their LegalSource certification.

Your due diligence system

You may adapt and implement the free LegalSource Due Diligence System across your company free of charge. You may also set up your own due diligence system, providing it fulfils all the LegalSource requirements.

Complementary services

You may opt for a range of other services to complement the auditing service.

Training can help you avoid start-up problems and prevent human error in implementing the DDS. Our short LegalSource Intro Course which provides a good knowledge basis within a short space of time. Our one-day LegalSource Kickstarter Course brings you further along by introducing the LegalSource DDS and the system's tools and templates. The more comprehensive LegalSource Expert Course provides solid competencies and is particularly useful if you need to manage risk related to complex supply chains, numerous products, assembled products or products coming from high-risk countries.
On-going support provides access to a LegalSource expert in between the scheduled audits. Our expert will be available to assist you with clarifications whenever you have questions related to the EUTR, such as interpretation of the requirements for risk assessment and mitigation.
Supplier auditing is in some cases the best option or even required for risk mitigation. We can conduct supplier audits on your behalf, however this is not mandatory. You can also conduct supplier verification yourself, in which case we will only carry out sample checks to verify your compliance.

Our experience

Our credentials

EU recognition. NEPCon is recognised by the European Commission as an EUTR Monitoring Organisation (MO) and is listed on the EU website. Awarded formal recognition in August 2013, we deliver MO services across all EU Member States.
Experience. We provide LegalSource services to a growing customer base worldwide, delivered by experts trained as LegalSource auditors. In addition, our FSC services include verification of legal harvesting in over 66 million hectares of forest land and auditing of over 3,500 timber supply chain companies.
Industry insight. We understand your business. Based on 25 years of service delivery, we are familiar with all production and trade companies along the timber supply chain.
Recognition for our Due Diligence System (DDS). Aligned with international standards and processes for legal timber sourcing, the LegalSource DDS is not only recognised by the EU, it has also formed the framework for developing the DDS that the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) offers to its members.
Broad engagement in timber legality. Beyond our services, we are involved in a number of international initiatives that facilitate legal timber sourcing.

Additional value of engaging with us

Free due diligence system. Our LegalSource Due Diligence System (DDS) is publicly available and free of charge. You can obtain LegalSource certification based on your implementation of this system.
Learn more and access the LegalSource Due Diligence System
Local presence, global reach. With staff located in 40 countries across Europe, Americas, Africa, Russia and Asia and backed by an extensive global network of experts, we cater to companies worldwide.
Complementary services. Choose from a flexible array of services that help you consolidate your responsible timber sourcing policy or otherwise enhance your sustainability profile.

Your benefits

Three top benefits of LegalSource certification

	Effective risk management. Our auditing helps you detect gaps and effectively manage the risk of illegal timber entering into your supply chain.
	Legal compliance. The certification process helps you identify and address weaknesses of your systems in terms of legal compliance if you are obliged by the EUTR, the US Lacey Act or the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act.
	Enhanced market access. Assurance of legal origin is often a basic requirement for timber products. Certification provides access to the LegalSource claims and labels and helps you demonstrate your efforts to source legal timber. This helps you to stay strong on key markets.