Further clarifications published on suspension measures for organizations in Russia and Belarus

FSC has updated two Advice Notes related to FSC certificates from Russia and Belarus to address auditing requirements. Additionally, a new version of the FAQs is now available.

The two Advice Notes that have been updated are as follows:

1. ADVICE-20-001-12 V2-0 Consequences of Uncontrollable or Non-auditable Risks impacting the Forest Sector at large

The revised version now introduces the option for a continued provision of surveillance and re-certification evaluations by certification bodies for suspended certificate holders if the suspension is not related to performance risks or extraordinary events putting the auditing itself at risk. This allows suspended certificate holders to continue with producing FSC product stock from their pre-suspension input stock, to transition to version 3.1 of FSC-STD-40-004, and to avoid the need for an evaluation prior to lifting the suspension.

2. ADVICE-20-011-14 V1-1 Verification audits for material sold and produced but not dispatched prior to suspension

The Advice Note has been updated to provide for more flexibility as to when the verification audit can be conducted: this audit can now also be conducted after the suspension on the basis of duly considered increased risks that such a later verification entails.

New Version of FAQs Available

A new version of the FAQs has been published and is available for download below.

To learn more about actions FSC has taken around the Russian invasion of Ukraine visit the dedicated webpage here.