Actions
Being part of FSC means striving for better: not just a green tick, but a shared commitment across all operations to protect forests for future generations. That’s why we take action if anyone connected to FSC engages in destructive forestry activities or violates our certification standards.
Dispute Resolution Team
How FSC Protects System Integrity
FSC protects the integrity of its certification system through a range of processes and tools designed to identify and address actions that may harm forests or undermine trust in the FSC system.
Before any organization or individual becomes associated with FSC, we use FSC Check to assess their background and exclude those involved in destructive activities.
We also monitor organizations already connected to FSC to examine potential nonconformities with certification standards or violations of our Policy for Association. When credible allegations arise—whether related to destructive forestry activities, fraud in supply chains, or broader integrity risks—FSC conducts evidence-based verifications, supported by partners such as Assurance Services International GmbH, certification bodies, and network offices. These processes allow us to verify facts, assess risks, address complaints, and take corrective actions ranging from certificate suspension to disassociation.
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FSC Check
We screen organizations and individuals before they become associated with FSC to assess whether they have engaged in destructive activities.
Policy for Association
We address unacceptable activities across corporate groups, going beyond certified operations.
Transaction Verification Loops
We detect potential false claims and volume inconsistencies in FSC-certified supply chains through targeted data verification.
Environmental and Social Integrity
We address integrity risks that fall outside traditional TV loops to detect and respond to environmental and social issues across supply chains.
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Outcomes
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Suspension or Termination
Certification bodies suspend or terminate certificates when a company cannot demonstrate conformity or fails to correct nonconformities.
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Blockage
FSC blocks organizations responsible for false claims or serious integrity breaches. Blocked organizations cannot trade, process, label, or handle FSC material, and cannot re-enter the system until all conditions are met.
For more information about blockage, please refer to Advice Note 18.
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Disassociation
When unacceptable activities are confirmed, FSC removes the entire corporate group from the FSC system, including certificates and trademark licences.
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Corrective, Preventive & Remedial Measures (CPR)
Organizations responsible for false claims must implement corrective steps, prevent recurrence through root cause analysis, and compensate for volumes falsely sold as FSC.
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Conditional Re-entry
After fulfilling all required measures, paying compensation fees, and addressing integrity risks, organizations may apply to re-enter the system following FSC review.
How to submit a complaint
FSC maintains a structured and transparent process for handling complaints related to its normative framework, the performance of FSC International, the FSC Network, or ASI. This process ensures that concerns raised by stakeholders are evaluated fairly, independently, and within defined timelines. It outlines who may submit a complaint, what information must be provided, how evidence is assessed, and how FSC communicates outcomes to all parties involved. It also explains how complaints are first addressed informally, how formal investigations proceed when necessary, and how stakeholders can appeal decisions.
For a full explanation of roles, timelines, requirements, and procedural steps, please refer to FSC-PRO-01-008 Processing Complaints in the FSC Certification Scheme Procedure (PRO) V(2-0).
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