Title

Continuous Improvement procedure

Code

FSC-PRO-30-011

Type

Procedure

Start Date

November 2019

End Date

June 2021

Purpose of the process

Development of a new international procedure that allows small forest owners and communities to be initially certified based only on a subset of forest management requirements and offers flexible steps towards conformity with the remaining requirements within a defined timeframe.

Strategic allignment

At the 2017 General Assembly in Vancouver, Canada, the membership approved Motion 46 with a focus on developing new solutions, including new ideas not currently contemplated in the FSC normative framework and system.

Technical Working Group

Daniela Vilela - FSC Brazil

Severinus Jembe - Soil Association

Jens Kanstrup - Forests of the World

Suphawadee Wilamart - IKEA

Mateo Cariño - NEPCon

Oliver Bach - Sustainable Agriculture Network

Timeline

April 2025
Revised Continuous Improvement Procedure Published

Version 1-1 of the Continuous Improvement Procedure FSC-PRO-30-011 is available.

The revision aligns the procedure with ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and removes Certification Body requirements, now included as an Annex in FSC-STD-20-007. Minor wording changes were made for consistency with ISO and to align timelines for closure of nonconformities with FSC-STD-20-001.

February 2025
Procedure Approved

On 27 February 2025, the FSC International Board of Directors approved the revised Continuous Improvement Procedure (Version 1-1).
 

December 2024 – January 2025
Public Consultation on Revised Procedure

A public consultation is available from 16 December 2024 to 24 January 2025 on the revised draft of FSC-PRO-30-011 to align with ISO/IEC 17065:2012.

To access the consultation, please click for English and Spanish version. 

FSC offers two webinars to present the draft and key changes. Please register below :

  • Wednesday, 15 January 2025, 21:00–22:00 CET (14:00–15:00 CST) – Spanish only – here.
  • Thursday, 16 January 2025, 16:00–17:00 CET – English only – here

Read the full news item here.

December 2024
Revision Proposal to Align with ISO

As part of the system-wide review of certification body requirements and in response to ISO compliance expectations, including input from the German accreditation body DAkkS, FSC shared a proposal to revise the Continuous Improvement Procedure.

The proposed changes aim to align FSC-PRO-30-011 with ISO/IEC 17065 while maintaining the core concept of the CIP. The revision clarifies how the timing and applicability of requirements are managed for eligible Management Units.

May 2022
Continuous Improvement Procedure Published
March 2022

FSC-PRO-30-011 FSC Continuous Improvement Procedure approved by the FSC International Board of Directors. 

January 2022

Final draft of procedure developed, taking stakeholder feedback from public consultation into consideration.

Final draft was sent to the Policy Steering Committee for approval. 

December 2022

A targeted consultation on first draft of procedure was held. 

15 June 2021 - 23 August 2021
Public Consultation Opened

Feedback submitted through the Consultation Platform

March 2020 - May 2021

As an adaptation to COVID-19 travel restrictions, a series of online calls was established allowing the Technical Working Group to continue to discuss and develop the different elements of the procedure.

A progress report was presented to the Policy Steering Group (PSG) in November, including a change in the composition of the Technical Working Group. The revised Technical Working Group worked hard in the first quarter of 2021 to prepare Draft 1 for public consultation. The original Project Coordinator went on sick leave and was replaced by one of the Technical Coordinator Janja Eke. 

18 February 2020
Working Group Established to Develop Continuous Improvement Procedure
11 February 2020
Consultative Forum open.
17 December 2019 – 17 January 2020
Call for applications to join the Technical Working Group to develop the Continuous Improvement Procedure.
December 2019
Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Technical Working Group approved by the Steering Committee.

Read ToR

November 2019
The recommendation from PSC was presented and approved by FSC Board of Directors
September 2019
A proposal for the development of the ‘Continuous Improvement’ concept was presented to the Policy and Standards Committee (PSC) and received a positive recommendation
FSC-PRO-30-011 V1-2 FR Procedure D’Amelioration Continue.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.10MB
FSC-PRO-30-011 V1-2 ES Procedimiento de Mejora Continua.pdf
PDF, Size: 0.99MB
FSC-PRO-30-011 V1-2 EN Continuous Improvement Procedure.pdf
PDF, Size: 0.95MB
CIP_Consult_webinar_ES_2025-01-15.pdf
PDF, Size: 2.19MB
CIP_Consult_webinar_EN_2025-01-16.pdf
PDF, Size: 2.08MB