New Policy for Association Advice Note for the application of the FSC Remedy Framework March 16, 2023 Category : Standards The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has published a new Advice Note that is applicable for corporate groups that have been disassociated from FSC or are seeking to associate with FSC after violating provisions of the Policy for Association (PfA), version 2. This Advice Note on Scope of application of FSC Remedy Framework for outstanding magnitude or gravity of harm caused (ADVICE-10-004-01 V1-0) can be accessed here. The objective of this Advice Note is to define the criteria and process for assigning extended application of the FSC Remedy Framework (FSC-PRO-01-007) to a corporate group. This means that the corporate group is to be determined by the concept of “control” as defined in the Policy for Association, version 3, instead of the majority ownership-based definition provided in the Policy for Association, version 2. The purpose behind using an extended scope for the application of the FSC Remedy Framework (FSC-PRO-01-007) is to ensure that systemic change with appropriate measures to prevent and address engagement in unacceptable activities are duly introduced within corporate groups that have complex governance structures, before allowing them to associate with FSC again. This Advice Note was approved by FSC’s Director General on 16 February 2023, and it was published on 15 March 2023. It addresses decisions by the FSC International Board of Directors, and Motion 45 that was passed at the General Assembly 2022. The document underwent a targeted consultation from 15 December 2022 to 23 January 2023. In line with requirements for Advice Note development, the target group for the consultation was formed from over 50 stakeholders most affected by it and those that were actively engaged in highly focused discussions leading to the approval of the Policy for Association, version 3 and the FSC Remedy Framework (FSC-PRO-01-007) in 2022. The target group was balanced in numbers, representation of regional interests, and between FSC’s three membership chambers – social, economic and environmental. The Advice Note will become effective from 1 July 2023.