Update on the implementation of the Core Labour Requirements in Myanmar July 11, 2025 Category : Integrity and Disputes Over the past two years, Assurance Services International (ASI) has assessed all certification bodies operating in Myanmar and confirmed serious risks of non-conformance with FSC’s Core Labour Requirements in multiple certificate holders (CHs) in the country. As a result, ASI issued sanctions to certification bodies. The majority of CHs were suspended although some of them voluntarily removed Myanmar from their accreditation scope, and consequently, the number of CHs was drastically reduced. These strong actions were the FSC system’s response following the 2024 decision by the FSC Board of Directors. Despite these efforts, the risks have not been mitigated to the satisfaction of ASI or FSC. Therefore, ASI has decided to reduce the geographical scope of all certification bodies' accreditations, or in instances where certification bodies are willing to remain in Myanmar, ASI will increase its oversight. These actions are in progress. All changes to certification body accreditation scope and certificate status will be published on the FSC Search Database and ASI websites by the end of July 2025. FSC’s Core Labour Requirements, introduced into the Chain of Custody standard in 2021, prohibit FSC certificate holders to engage in child or forced labour and require them to uphold freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining. To support implementation, FSC and ASI have recently published a Manual on Core Labour Requirements, providing certification bodies with guidance on upholding workers’ rights throughout FSC-certified operations. This key initiative, developed after an analysis of gaps and findings from in-person trainings with certification body auditors around the globe, will enhance auditor competence and ensure consistent implementation of labour rights safeguards across the FSC Chain of Custody system. FSC and ASI remain committed to upholding the integrity of the FSC certification system in Myanmar and globally.