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(268 results)
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.
Process Requirements for the Development and Maintenance of National Forest Stewardship Standards
FSC-STD-60-006
This standard specifies the process requirements to be followed for the development and revision of regional (supra-national, trans-national), national or sub-national FSC Forest Stewardship Standards by registered Standards Development Groups and endorsed National Initiatives.
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.
Controlled Forest Management Evaluations
FSC-STD-20-012
This standard applies to forest management-accredited certification bodies assessing conformity with the applicable FSC normative requirements during controlled forest management evaluations including pre-evaluations, main evaluations, surveillance evaluations and step-up evaluations of single management units, forest management groups, and single legal entities managing multiple management units. This standard defines the normative requirements for FSC accreditation for controlled forest management certification.
Controlled Forest Management
FSC-STD-30-010
This standard specifies the requirements applicable at the level of the Management Unit (MU) that allows persons or entities to demonstrate that the products supplied from that MU come from controlled forest management (CFM). Controlled forest management respects and upholds legality and customary and human rights, including The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. It also maintains or enhances social, cultural, environmental, and High Conservation Values (HCV) of the forests and prevents deforestation and degradation - and is free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
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.
Forest Management Groups
FSC-STD-30-005
This standard specifies the requirements for group entities (the certificate holder) managing a group of forest management units under a single certificate, a process referred to as ‘group certification'.
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 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
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.
(809 results)
FSC_Policy_responses_Ukraine__2022-12-19
FSC core labour requirements self-assessment_Australia V1-0
Greenpeace Report - Stolen Future
FSC-STD-01-003 SLIMF Review Report
Focus Forests Landscape Dialogue – Info Sheet_EN
First Draft - FSC-STD-50-002 V2-0 EN
2018.07 New Members EN- FSC Internacional
2020.12 New Members EN - FSC Internacional
FSC core labour requirements self-assessment_USA V1-0
FSC-STD-RAP-01-2021

FSC Check

FSC Check is a tool to conduct a risk-based review of organizations and individuals that want to join or re-join the FSC system, thereby ensuring that their values are aligned with those of FSC, proactively using a tech-based solution. New applicants for certification and membership will be invited to go through FSC Check.

If you have questions, write to us at:
laptop tree
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FSC Check is not being applied to existing FSC members and certificate holders, at the moment.

About FSC Check

FSC Check is a tool that has been developed to identify whether applicants for certification or membership have any connection to the six unacceptable activities mentioned in FSC’s Policy for Association. Therefore, any new company or individual that wants to get associated with FSC will have to undergo this new step in the existing processes for certification and membership.

FSC is implementing the normative procedure called Disclosure Requirements for Association with FSC (FSC-PRO-10-004) with this tool. Based on the information requirements mentioned in this normative document, FSC Check consists of an online questionnaire that new applicants have to complete. 

This automated tool cross-checks the information submitted through the tool with FSC’s database about certificate holders and members. If the results of the information check show that there might be a risk of the applicant being in violation of the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004), then FSC will not associate with such organizations or individuals.

Integration into the system

FSC Check has been integrated within FSC’s existing system to ensure that new applicants for certification and membership do not face undue delays in their entry into FSC. The tool is housed within FSC Connect to ensure easy access for applicants once their profile is created in the FSC database. 

  • For certification applicants: FSC Check is positioned as a new step before the applicant is invited to sign the Trademark License Agreement (TLA). Read more about this process here.
  • For new membership applicants: FSC Check has to be completed by the applicant before they complete the membership application process.

To learn more about how to complete the FSC Check process, click here.

How it works

step
01

New applicant added to FSC’s database

The certification body or FSC membership team starts the process by creating a new applicant in FSC’s certification/membership database. 

step
02

Role of the new applicant

The applicant is invited to answer the questionnaire in FSC Check and submit the requested information. For more information about how to complete the FSC Check process, click here.

step
03

Information processing

The applicant’s information is automatically cross-checked against FSC’s database to assess risk level. The assessment outcome is graded as low or high risk.

Implications of risk levels

1. Low risk
Applicants seeking certification are automatically directed to the TLA signing process. For those seeking membership, their application will be sent to FSC’s committee assessing membership applications for review and approval. 

2. High risk
FSC manually assesses the information submitted by the applicant and may request the applicant for additional information. 

  • If the applicant shows low risk, then they will proceed with their TLA signing or membership process 
  • If the applicant’s risk level continues to remain high, then FSC rejects their application for association with FSC.
FSC Digital Audits
iStock.com / PeopleImages

Data protection

To ensure that an applicant’s data is protected, the tool has been developed based on ISO standards and there are a number of data compliance mechanisms integrated into FSC Check. FSC adheres to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations, which means that any data stored by FSC (including corporate structure and personnel information) are handled in a strict and compliant manner following FSC’s data handling policies. Sensitive details about an applicant are stored in the FSC Certification Database and access is restricted to a tightly defined set of FSC staff who need to use that data to perform further risk review, when applicable.

FSC Search BETA - Interface Highlight

Publication of applicant information

FSC will publish an applicant’s basic information on its FSC Certificate Public Dashboard for 30 days to add transparency about who is applying to become a part of the FSC system (a normative requirement). The responses provided or conclusions of the review will not be published. To see the list of certification and membership applicants going through FSC Check, click here.

FAQ FSC Check_November 2023.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.31MB

Additional resources

Through this set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), find out more about the FSC Check process, who it applies to, and the role of various stakeholders.

FSC Check - applicant user guide
PDF, Size: 3.20MB

User guide for applicants: How to complete the FSC Check process

This user guide provides step-by-step directions on how to complete the FSC Check process.