Tropical timber sourcing from the Congo Basin

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is committed to ensuring that responsible forest management contributes positively to the environment, local communities, and protects the rights and well-being of workers across certified operations. We take labour rights and occupational health and safety seriously, and these principles are embedded throughout our certification system. This includes the Congo Basin – a key region where tropical timber is commonly sourced - in which FSC is actively engaged in maintaining the integrity of certification through robust standards, verification, and oversight. 

FSC explicitly addresses workers, customary, community, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights in its Principles and Criteria (P&C), ensuring that forest management interventions uphold social responsibility. These areas are where FSC can drive meaningful impact through its standards and verification mechanisms. FSC requires all certificate holders to implement health and safety practices to protect workers from occupational hazards and to comply with workers' rights protected by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Conventions, which cover the abolition of child labour, the elimination of forced labour and discrimination, the freedom of association and right to collective bargaining. These requirements are reflected in both the Forest Stewardship Standards (FSS) and Chain of Custody (CoC). 

Conformance with these standards is rigorously verified by independent certification bodies, who assess the full scope of operations, including Occupational Health and Safety (OHAS) reports, to ensure that all criteria are met. Where non-conformities are found, certificate holders are required to take corrective actions within specified timelines. Serious or repeated failures can result in suspension or termination of certification. 

In response to potential concerns raised in Gabon, FSC alerted Assurance Services International (AS) and the relevant certification bodies to possible issues related to worker safety in certified operations. Following regular and annual audits, several certificate holders have since been suspended from the FSC system. Further suspensions may occur as audits continue across the region. 

We recognize that stakeholders expect immediate action when serious allegations arise. However, as a certification scheme grounded in credibility and due process, FSC must adhere to its established procedures. This includes working in close coordination with ASI and independent certification bodies to conduct thorough evaluations, ensure fairness, and verify evidence before making final decisions. While this process may take time compared to public expectations and media cycles, it is designed to safeguard the integrity of our system. We do not take such matters lightly; we take informed, substantiated action that upholds our standards and drives meaningful change.  

FSC works closely with certification bodies, providing training and guidance to ensure the integrity of the certification process and drive continuous improvement. In response to feedback from various stakeholders, we have identified a need for enhanced auditor capacity in the Congo Basin. As a result, we are implementing targeted training programmes to strengthen auditors’ ability to assess labour rights and occupational health and safety requirements in the region.    

FSC has established formal mechanisms for reporting concerns about potential violations of its standards. Anyone – inside or outside the organization – can submit complaints, and if wrongdoings are confirmed, FSC takes immediate action, which may include exclusion from the system. 

For more information on the different actors involved in our certification system, please visit this page. 

To learn more about our Policy of Association, please visit this page. 

To report an unacceptable activity, please visit this page.