Avoiding the harms of pesticides

FSC strives to identify the best feasible approach to reduce the use of chemical pesticides in FSC-certified forests and plantations, and to prevent, minimise and mitigate the related environmental and social impacts.

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Pesticides strictly regulated

The use of pesticides and pest management in the forestry industry is a subject of widespread debate.

For FSC, having a clear pesticides policy, and keeping it up to date with changing global circumstances and new technologies, is essential.

In short, our pesticides policy outlines our commitment to ensure that:

  • the use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHP) in FSC-certified forests is reduced and managed responsibly when there is no alternative
  • the use of the most hazardous chemical pesticides is eliminated

The policy is reviewed regularly, and takes into account both global differences and social, environmental and economic needs via a procedure that is transparent and monitored.

Pesticides Policy

FSC-POL-30-001 V3-0 EN

The FSC Pesticides Policy lays out FSC’s position for managing the use of chemical pesticides in FSC-certified management units in consistency with Criterion 10.7 of FSC-STD-01-001 V5-2 FSC Principles and Criteria, which requires, inter alia, the use of integrated pest management.

Download the document here: Document | FSC Connect

Read the FAQs about the Policy here

Lists of highly hazardous pesticides

FSC-POL-30-001a EN

This addendum lists chemical pesticides that meet the indicators and thresholds set out in Annex 1 of FSC-POL-30-001 V3-0 FSC Pesticides Policy, and therefore are considered to be highly hazardous in the FSC system and classifies them as prohibited, highly restricted or restricted.

Find the document here: Document | FSC Connect