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Structure, Content and Local Adaptation of Generic Forest Stewardship Standards
FSC-STD-20-002
This standard defines a hierarchical framework which ensures that all FSC Forest Stewardship Standards can be audited in a consistent manner, providing replicable results. This standard also specifies the requirements for certification bodies to adapt their generic standards to local conditions in countries where there is not yet an FSC approved regional, national or sub-national Forest Stewardship Standard. This standard shall apply to certification body generic certification standards used as the basis for FSC certification.
The FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Chinese Taipei
FSC-STD-TWN-01-2023 EN
The present document contains certification requirements for certifying forest operations in Chinese Taipei, developed in accordance with FSC's normative document for the development and maintenance of FSC Forest Stewardship Standards. Revisions of FSC Forest Stewardship Standards are ongoing, and all existing standards will be transferred to the revised Principles & Criteria version 5-2. All standards are valid until replaced by a new FSC Forest Stewardship Standard.
Requirements for Sourcing FSC Controlled Wood
FSC-STD-40-005
Este estándar describe los requisitos de un sistema de diligencia debida para que organizaciones con certificación FSC de Cadena de Custodia eviten material proveniente de fuentes inaceptables. El material proveniente de fuentes inaceptables no puede usarse en productos FSC Mixtos.
Sourcing reclaimed material for use in FSC Product Groups or FSC Certified Projects
FSC-STD-40-007
This standard stipulates the requirements that shall be followed by organizations certified according to FSC-STD-40-004 or FSC-STD-40-006 for purchasing, verifying and classifying reclaimed forest-based inputs (including materials such as bamboo and cork) for use in FSC Product Groups and FSC Certified Projects.
Requirements for use of the FSC trademarks by certificate holders
FSC-STD-50-001
This standard is mandatory for all FSC certificate holders who are entitled to use the FSC trademarks and sets out how to use the FSC trademarks correctly. The standard covers use of the FSC trademarks on FSC certified products, use for promotion of FSC certified products, and for promotion of the company's status as an FSC certificate holder. This standard forms the basis for evaluation and approval by FSC accredited certification bodies of all certificate holders' FSC trademark use.
FSC Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship
FSC-STD-01-001
FSC is an international organization that provides a system for voluntary accreditation and independent third-party certification. This system allows certificate holders to market their products and services as the result of environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. FSC also sets standards for the development and approval of FSC Stewardship Standards which are based on the FSC Principles and Criteria. In addition, FSC sets standards for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies (also known as certification bodies) that certify compliance with FSC's standards. Based on these standards, FSC provides a system for certification for organizations seeking to market their products as FSC certified. Version 4-0 is still applicable to those territories which have FSC certified forests but do not have Forest Stewardship Standards based on Version 5-0. Version 4-0 is available for download here: FSC-STD-01-001 Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship V4-0
General requirements for FSC accredited certification bodies
FSC-STD-20-001
This standard specifies the accreditation requirements for all certification bodies operating FSC accredited certification programs. The objective of this standard is to ensure that these programs are managed in a competent, consistent, impartial, transparent, rigorous, reliable and credible manner, thereby facilitating their acceptance on a national and international basis and so furthering international trade and promoting sustainable development.
Structure and Content of National Forest Stewardship Standards
FSC-STD-60-002
This International Standard shall be used as a normative document for FSC approval of regional, national or sub-national Forest Stewardship Standards.
SLIMF eligibility criteria addendum
FSC-STD-01-003a
This document provides an up to date list of countries for which the SLIMF eligibility criteria differ from those specified for international use in “FSC-STD-01-003 V1-0 EN: SLIMF Eligibility Criteria” .
FSC Controlled Wood Standard for Forest Management Enterprises
FSC-STD-30-010
This standard specifies basic requirements applicable at the forest management unit (FMU) level for forest management enterprises to demonstrate to a company or third party certification body that wood supplied is controlled. It allows forest management enterprises to provide evidence that the wood they supply has been controlled to avoid wood that is illegally harvested, harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights, harvested in forest management units in which high conservation values are threatened by management activities, harvested in areas in which forests are being converted to plantations or nonforest use or harvested from forests in which genetically modified tress are planted.
(707 results)
FSC_Policy_responses_Ukraine__2022-12-19
FSC-STD-01-003 SLIMF Review Report
Focus Forests Landscape Dialogue – Info Sheet_EN
First Draft - FSC-STD-50-002 V2-0 EN
FSC-STD-RAP-01-2021
2018.07 New Members EN- FSC Internacional
2020.12 New Members EN - FSC Internacional
FSC core labour requirements self-assessment_USA V1-0
FSC core labour requirements self-assessment_Australia V1-0
Guidance CG - Executive Summary.pdf

Case summary

In April 2021, a German lower court found persons working for WOB Timber GmbH in breach of a European Union (EU) timber trade regulation and evading specific EU sanctions on Myanmar timber (no longer in force since May 2013) regarding imports between June 2008 and May 2011. WOB Timber has appealed the lower court ruling and denies any violation of EU sanctions or illegal trade in forest products. 

The German Federal Supreme Court has suspended the appeal proceedings and referred the case to the Court of Justice of the EU for a preliminary ruling. FSC holds the view that the lower court ruling provides substantial information of a potential violation of the FSC Policy for Association of Organizations (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0), policy element (a) illegal logging or the trade in illegal wood or forest products. 

WOB Timber does not agree with FSC’s position. 
 

Process updates

Direct decision - phase 3

Final decision - direct decision

Final decision

FSC constitutes a team from a pool of pre-approved experts called the decision panel to review evidence and take a binding decision on the merits of the case. The decision panel can decide to maintain association with the corporate group, to maintain association with conditions, or to recommend to the FSC Board of Directors disassociation. The FSC Board of Directors is mandated to make a final binding decision on disassociation from the corporate group.

Update: The decision panel recommended FSC to maintain  association with conditions with WOB Timber GmbH, which has been approved by the FSC International Board of Directors. In June 2023, FSC and WOB Timber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which stipulates the conditions that WOB Timber shall fulfil within 12 months for maintaining association with FSC. For more information, read the press release here.

Information review - direct decision

Information review

Wherein FSC deems there is sufficient substantial information to support an allegation of an unacceptable activity, FSC shall move directly to decision making. The decision panel shall review the information and decide on the sufficiency of the information to conclude whether an unacceptable activity has occurred.  

Update: The decision panel has been constituted. The provisions of Policy for Association, version 2 is applied in this case because the unacceptable activity took place prior to 1 January 2023.   
 

Preliminary evaluation

Preliminary evaluation

FSC evaluates all available information to determine the application of the Policy for Association against the applicable version according to the allegations.  FSC then undertakes an evaluation on the implementation of alternative dispute resolution tools to resolve the issue(s) taking into consideration exigency, the subject matter and willingness of the parties to engage in dialogue.  FSC takes a decision to proceed with ADR or move to investigation or a direct decision via a decision panel.

Update: FSC International proactively launched a Policy for Association (PfA) case against WOB Timber GmbH. This case will be managed using the Direct Decision process.