FSC statement on recent system integrity criticism

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) takes any allegation regarding the integrity of our system seriously, including concerns about certificate holders’ reporting obligations and certification bodies’ auditing due diligence. 

We are aware of a recent report raising serious concerns and we have communicated the matter to Assurance Services International (ASI) for investigation. Any updates will be publicly communicated.  

While the specifics of this case are still under review, we want to be clear: FSC standards prohibit illegal concession operations and false claims of FSC certification.  

FSC's framework sets strict requirements for certificate holders, and includes multi-layered oversight mechanisms to detect any activity that does not meet our standards. These mechanisms include third-party audits by ASI and certification bodies, site and sample assessments, risk assessments, and transaction verification loops, among other procedures. 

Where clear and convincing evidence of a violation exists, organizations may be blocked from the FSC system for a period of time, and in the most serious cases, FSC may also disassociate from organizations. 

While we recognize no certification oversight system is without limitations, FSC's current model reflects years of work dedicated to building a certification system that is globally applicable, and combines certificate holder obligations, independent and third-party audits, as well as a number of mechanisms for investigating and addressing credible allegations. As always, we remain open to constructive recommendations that can strengthen how our system identifies and responds to risks.