FSC Publishes New Version of the Trademark Standard for Certificate Holders

On 1 October 2021 FSC published the revised trademark standard FSC-STD-50-001 (V2-1) Requirements for use of the FSC trademarks by certificate holders, with changes to the MIX label text and the controlled wood claims. The standard will become effective on 1 January 2022.

The transition period is 2.5 years, starting 1 January 2022 and ending 30 June 2024. During this period, FSC certificate holders may opt to use the revised version V2-1 or continue to use the previous version V2-0.

Reinforcing clear labelling and enhancing the understanding of controlled wood

The Strategy for FSC Mix Products and Controlled Wood published in April 2019 called for  (i) a change of the FSC MIX label text and  (ii) the introduction of fixed controlled wood statements to enhance the understanding of controlled wood.  

A technical working group was set up in November 2019 and a public consultation of the outcome was subsequently carried out. Read more about the relevant process via the FSC website.  

The technical working group proposed a revised text for the FSC MIX label as well as fixed controlled wood statements. In June 2020, the FSC Board of Directors approved the proposals of the working group. Version 2-1 of the trademark standard will incorporate these two changes. 

“Supporting responsible forestry”: the new text of the MIX label 

The first important change of FSC-STD-50-001 V2-1 relates to Action 4.1 of the Strategy for FSC Mix Products and Controlled Wood: Change the wording of the text on the FSC Mix label so that it reinforces truth in labelling. 

The new MIX label text approved by the FSC Board of Directors is ‘Supporting Responsible Forestry’. 

Read more about the new FSC MIX label, the rationale behind the change, and relevant timelines in the factsheet published on the FSC website. 

The new MIX label will be available in the FSC Trademark Portal from 1 January 2022.  Between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2024 certificate holders may use either the current or the new MIX label. From 1 July 2024, only the new MIX label will be available for use. 

Communicating about controlled wood

The second change of FSC-STD-50-001 V2-1 relates to Action 4.2 of the Strategy for FSC Mix Products and Controlled Wood: Allow FSC-certified organizations to communicate about controlled wood in line with the objectives of this strategy. If they choose to do so, they must use standardized statement(s) and instructions that will be developed by FSC. 

The fixed controlled wood statements approved by the Board of Directors are the following:  

o   FSC^® controlled wood mitigates the risk of forest products originating from unacceptable sources.  

o   FSC^® controlled wood mitigates the risk of forest products originating from unacceptable sources. FSC controlled wood requirements prohibit and are designed to avoid: illegally harvested wood, wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights, wood from forests with threatened high conservation values, wood from forests with genetically modified trees and wood from forests converted to plantations or non-forest uses. For more information on FSC controlled wood click here. 

The controlled wood statements may be used by certificate holders from 1 January 2022 to promote sales or sourcing of controlled material or controlled wood. They may also be used to explain the meaning of controlled wood when describing the materials of a MIX labelled product.