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Normative Document
  1. FSC-STD-20-001 General requirements for FSC accredited certification bodies  
  2. FSC-PRO-20-003 Transfer of FSC Certificates and License Agreements  
  3. FSC-PRO-20-004 General Requirements for FSC Training Programme 
Document Purpose

FSC-STD-20-001: ensure that FSC accredited certification programs are managed in a competent, consistent, impartial, transparent, rigorous, reliable and credible manner. The standard was developed  to ensure the conformity with ISEAL requirements and compatibility with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013-01  

FSC-PRO-20-003: applying a consistent set of process requirements to facilitate the voluntary transfer of certificate holders from one certification body to another 

FSC-PRO-20-004: ensure consistent initial and ongoing qualification of auditors through implementation of the FSC Training Programme

Process Objectives
  1. Continued relevance and validity of the standard and related procedures to maintain a functioning certification system    

  1. Integrity of the system is enhanced and maintained  

  1. Streamlined documents to ensure that the final standard and related procedures are well aligned within the normative framework, not contradicting or duplicating the other accreditation standards such as FSC-STD-20-007 Forest Management Evaluations and FSC-STD-20-011 Chain of Custody Evaluations 

Technical Working Group

Sahana CA, Lead Assessor at ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)

Liviu Amariei, Director at Assurance and Sustainability Training Academy

Ellen Keyti Cavalheri, Coordinator at IMAFLORA

Emily Blackwell, Head of Technical at Soil Association

Get involved

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Timeline

23 September 2024 - 21 November 2024
Public consultation open

FSC is conducting a public consultation on the drafts for three documents (please note that FSC-PRO-20-003 is included as an Annex 6 to FSC-STD-20-001 V5-0 D2-0).

Key changes

The following is an overview of the key changes:

1. Changes triggered by EC regulation 765/2008:

  • Obtaining and maintaining accreditation as per ASI Two-Tier Assurance Program.
  • ISO 17065 as basis for accreditation.

Why it matters: FSC introduced the process for accreditation and the conformity with ISO 17065 as mandatory accreditation requirement.

2. Alignment with ISO 17065

Why it matters: FSC has aligned its certification body standard with ISO 17065 and this alignment led to the changes in closure of nonconformity timelines, timeline for making certification decision and granting and maintaining certification if the nonconformities are addressed.

3. Proposal to introduce risk-based approaches to auditing.

Why it matters: Risk-based approach to apply additional evaluation measures in case of high integrity risk is added. 

4. Changes to the related procedures include provision for online trainings for auditor candidates and clarification to the transfer of certification from one certification body to other.

Why it matters: FSC introduced the provision of online trainings for auditor candidates for chain of custody and forest management trainings the in-person component is kept as mandatory. In terms of transfer of certification, process for voluntary and non-voluntary transfers is clarified. 

July - August 204

Draft 01 of the FSC-STD-20-001 is prepared and Desk Test is conducted with 3 certification bodies

October - November 2024
Webinars for public consultation

Consultation webinar on FSC accreditation standards revision

  • Wednesday, 16 October 9:00 – 10:30 am CET with Spanish and French interpretation. Register here.
  • Wednesday, 16 October 16:00 – 17:30 am CET with Spanish and French interpretation. Register here.

Consultation webinar on FSC accreditation standards revision for technical users

  • Thursday, 07 November 2024 at 9:00 – 10:30 CET in English only.  Register here.
  • Thursday, 07 November 2024 at 16:00 – 17:30 CET in English only.  Register here.
August 2023

To complement the focused consultation, FSC conducted three webinars for stakeholders to provide feedback and learn more about proposed key changes.

17 July 2023 - 31 August 2023
Focused Consultation

Conceptual consultation conducted. Review the summary of what was included in the consultation here. Read the consultation report here

July 2022 - August 2022

Public consultation of Review Report recommending a joint revision

FSC-STD-20-001 V4-0 ES Review Report (1).pdf
PDF, Size: 584.66KB
TOR_FSC-STD-20-001_and2procedures (1).pdf
PDF, Size: 863.69KB
FSC-STD-20-001 V4-0 EN Review Report
PDF, Size: 531.11KB
Infographic_revision-general-accreditation-standard_2023-04-07.pdf
PDF, Size: 43.09KB
Focused-consultation-report_FSC-STD-20-001_EN_2024.03.19.pdf
PDF, Size: 1.01MB
Accreditation_consultation_onepager.pdf
PDF, Size: 20.53MB

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