Complaints and appeals consultation extended

FSC announces the extension of the second public consultation on the first draft of the revised complaints and appeals procedure, developed as a part of the ongoing revision of the normative requirements for handling complaints and appeals.  

Recognizing the importance of this procedure and of hearing voices from a wide variety of stakeholders worldwide about the draft, FSC has decided to extend the consultation period by two weeks. The new deadline for submitting feedback is 17 August 2025 (23:59:59 CEST). 

To participate in the consultation, click here. 

Find details of the revision process and an overview about the proposed changes. 

Key changes proposed   

New minimum requirements aligned with international best practice: Complaints are handled at various levels by different implementing bodies in the FSC system — namely certificate holders, certification bodies, Assurance Services International (ASI), and FSC International. This procedure sets new minimum requirements for all implementing bodies to ensure consistency and a high level of quality in handling complaints and appeals. These requirements are based on the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights and its Principle 31 on grievance mechanisms.   

Exemptions to the subsidiarity principle: FSC’s complaints handling mechanism is based on the subsidiarity principle whereby complainants are required to submit their complaint to the implementing body that the complaint pertains to. In the revised draft FSC proposes to introduce criteria that provide exemption from the subsidiarity principle where appropriate.  

Accessibility and support measures for vulnerable persons and groups: Acknowledging the challenges faced by vulnerable persons and groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, the draft revised procedure includes provisions that aim to make FSC’s complaints and appeals handling mechanism easier to understand and access. It also introduces requirements for providing support measures to vulnerable persons and groups.   

Systemic learning: The draft introduces requirements for FSC’s continuous and systemic learning from complaints. Including centralized capture of all complaints in the system, the draft proposes that FSC identify areas of improvements and risks more systematically going forward.  

Merging of two procedures: Currently, there are two separate normative procedures in the FSC system — one for handling general complaints and the other for handling appeals. Through this revision process, FSC proposes to merge the two procedures.    

Your feedback and support are important to us!  We encourage all interested parties to participate in the public consultation and share their insights to help shape a robust and effective procedure. 

Background of the revision process 

This revision process started in 2023. Based on the feedback stakeholders provided in the first public consultation during the conceptual phase, FSC worked with the following members of a technical working group to develop the first draft of the new procedure: 

• Archana Kotecha, CEO & Founder at The Remedy Project Ltd.  
• Gabriel Bolton, Senior Technical Advisor - Forestry at Preferred by Nature   
• Isak Lodin, Forestry Expert at WWF Sweden  
• Te Ngaehe Wanikau, Strategic Advisor & Director at Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa Trust