FSC Denmark / Bablu Singh
Supply Chain Integrity
Supply Chain Integrity verifies that FSC-certified products are traded and labelled accurately throughout global supply chains. Together with our assurance provider Assurance Services International GmbH (ASI), FSC uses risk-based monitoring, data analysis, and verifications to detect false claims and protect the credibility of the FSC system.
Why Supply Chain Integrity Matters
Supply chain integrity is essential for maintaining trust in FSC-certified products. It verifies that materials are traced accurately through every stage of the supply chain. Supply chain integrity safeguards the value of FSC certification by protecting the credibility of our label, enabling responsible companies to operate in a fair system, and ensuring that FSC can take action when integrity risks or violations occur.
Key Terms
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False claim
An FSC claim or trademark use on products that are not eligible to be sold, labelled, or promoted as FSC-certified or FSC Controlled Wood.
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Blocked organization
A certificate holder that lost FSC certification rights due to false claims and is restricted from participating in FSC certification activities until the issue is resolved.
How FSC Detects Risks in The Supply Chain
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Internal and Network Intelligence
FSC gathers insights from FSC teams, network partners, regional offices, and certification bodies to identify potential issues in supply chains.
Stakeholder Complaints and Whistleblowing
Concerns raised by stakeholders, partners, or whistleblowers provide critical early warnings of potential false claims or irregularities.
Proactive Monitoring of External Sources
FSC screens media, NGO reports, digital platforms, and other third party information to detect emerging risks or areas of concern.
Collaboration with ASI
FSC works closely with ASI to identify high risk supply chains and implement targeted oversight.
How FSC Protects Supply Chain Integrity
FSC and ASI address supply chain integrity through two main types of investigations: Transaction Verification (TV) Loops and Environmental & Social Integrity (ESI) Investigations. TV Loops analyse trade data to identify volume mismatches and potential false claims. Environmental & Social Integrity (ESI) Investigations examine broader integrity risks such as irregular product flows, potential fraud at harvesting sites, labour rights concerns, violations of community and Indigenous Peoples' rights, or other signs of potential malicious intent identified through monitoring and stakeholder input. To learn more about our Supply chain integrity investigations visit this page.
Transaction Verification Loops
Transaction Verification Loops are data-based checks that compare sales and purchase records between FSC trading partners to confirm that FSC claims and volumes match across the supply chain.
Environmental & Social Integrity
Environmental & Social Integrity covers FSC’s work to address broader integrity risks in supply chains, including potential false claims, legality concerns, labour rights issues, and other environmental or social...
How to Raise a Concern
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To report FSC claim or trademark misuse
Contact the certification body responsible for the company’s FSC certificate by consulting contact details on ASI website or via your local or regional FSC office.
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To report issues with a certification body
Submit the case to ASI using their public complaints channel.
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To escalate concerns
Reach out to FSC for review.
Relevant normative documents
FSC’s approach to supply chain integrity is grounded in a set of normative documents that define how certified organizations must manage materials, make claims, and demonstrate traceability. These documents establish the rules for tracking certified inputs, verifying claims, planning and conducting chain of custody evaluations, and implementing transaction verification. Together, they provide the structure needed to detect risks, prevent false claims, and ensure credible FSC product flows.
FSC-STD-40-004 - Chain of Custody defines how certified companies handle inputs, control materials, and make FSC claims, including requirements for segregation, volume control, and sales documentation.
FSC-STD-20-011 - Chain of Custody Evaluations specifies how certification bodies must evaluate chain of custody operations, including audit scope, sampling, verification of material balances, and reporting.
FSC-STD-20-001 - General Requirements for Certification Bodies outlines the core responsibilities and procedures certification bodies must apply when conducting FSC audits, including decision making rules and quality assurance systems.
Advice Notes (FSC-DIR-40-004 FSC Directive on Chain of Custody Certification and FSC-DIR-20-011 FSC Directive on Chain of Custody Evaluations) provide additional instructions related to false claims, high risk products and related risk mitigation actions, and evaluation rules that certification bodies and certificate holders must follow.
FAQs
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What are the consequences for uncertified businesses that are found making false and/or inaccurate claims?
Unauthorised use of FSC trademarks by non-certificate holders is handled by the FSC Legal IP & TM team. The team investigates potential infringements of FSC intellectual property rights, including the use of FSC trademarks on non-eligible products or in commercial communications, and takes legal action when needed.
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What is the difference between deliberate false claims, negligent false claims, and inaccurate claims?
False claims are claims made on sales documents, whether physical or electronic, or through the use of FSC trademarks on products or projects that are not eligible to be claimed, labelled, or promoted as FSC-certified or FSC Controlled Wood.
False claims may be deliberate or negligent. Deliberate false claims are made intentionally. Negligent false claims result from a failure to apply the required care, controls, or checks to ensure that FSC claims are correct.
Inaccurate claims involve products that are eligible to be sold as FSC certified but are sold with the wrong FSC claim. For example, a product that should be sold as FSC Mix is sold as FSC 100%.
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