MTCC was established in October 1998 as an independent organisation to develop and operate the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS). As a voluntary national scheme, the MTCS provides for independent assessment of forest management practices, to ensure the sustainable management of Malaysia’s natural forest and forest plantations, as well as to meet the demand for certified timber products. The MTCS has been endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes, the largest forest certification programme, representing more than 200 million ha of certified forests worldwide. The MTCS is also the first tropical timber certification scheme in the Asia Pacific region to be endorsed by the PEFC.