FSC is Unique
A number of forest certification schemes exist in the market. This section provides some facts on why FSC is the only scheme environmental organizations, social groups and businesses recommend.
Over the years, a substantive body of literature comparing forest management certification schemes and their requirement has developed. For a selection of the most prominent and influential studies including chosen citations on FSC, please refer to the Reports on FSC section or the FSC fact sheet:
Click here to download the pdf.
Some key points that make FSC unique:
FSC is the only global standard setting organization in forest management.
The FSC Principles and Criteria are the only internationally valid standards for responsible forest management. Compliance with the FSC Principles and Criteria is mandatory.
FSC standards are further the only standards in forest management developed according to ISEAL’s Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards, which ensures they are based on balanced and transparent multi-stakeholder processes and that they are not a technical barrier to trade. FSC is also the only standard setting organization in forest management recognized as International Standard Setting Organization by the World Standards Services Network (WSSN). Because international standards provide a common global reference the WSSN lists one standard setting body for each topic.
FSC is the only Forest Management standard that is no barrier to trade.
Being the only internationally recognized standard for forest management, governments can specify FSC certification in their procurement policies without breeching World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. In fact, WTO regulations encourage governments to specify truly international standards such as the FSC Principles and Criteria in their procurement policies. For further information on this topic, please refer to the FSC fact sheet: Specifying FSC in Public Procurement – In line with WTO Rules.
Click here to download the pdf .
FSC is the only global forest management certification system where social, environmental and industry interests carry the same weight.
Equitable chamber balanced by interest groups (economic, social and environmental) and North-South balanced approach is required throughout all standard setting and consultation systems. This includes the membership assemblies (the highest decision-making body) and balanced representative Board of Directors, elected by the membership.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that prohibits the conversion of forests and other natural habitat.
Principle 6, and 6.10 in particular of the FSC P&C.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that respects the rights of indigenous peoples.
Principle 3 of the FSC P&C deals exclusively with indigenous peoples’ rights. It states: ‘The legal and customary rights of indigenous peoples to own, use and manage their lands, territories, and resources shall be recognized and respected. Principles 2 (Tenure and Use Rights and Responsibilities) and 4 (Community Relations and Workers’ Rights) further add to this requirement.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that prohibits the use of highly hazardous pesticides.
(FSC P&C Criterion 6.6). FSC standards establish that some pesticides even though legal, should not be used due to their social and environmental consequences. Only under certain, strictly defined and highly controlled conditions and for a clearly defined limited time, the FSC system allows for derogation processes for these pesticides. The intention of such a derogation for a limited and clearly defined time frame is to allow to the forest manager to test and find less hazardous alternative solutions.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified trees (GMOs).
This is stipulated by Criterion 6.8 of the FSC P&C. With this policy FSC recognizes that there is to date no conclusive research on the impact of GMOs. This policy further takes into account that trees carry a particular high risk of contamination due to the wide range of dispersal of their genetic material. This means that potential negative impacts would be tremendous.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system with an integrated accreditation program that systematically controls its certification bodies.
Before being able to certify according to FSC standards, certification bodies have to gain FSC accreditation. To do this, certifiers have to comply with an extensive set of rules. Compliance with these rules and procedures is verified by ASI (the company managing FSC’s accreditation program) through an office audit and the witnessing of one trial audit in the field prior to gaining FSC accreditation. One such requirement is that all FSC accredited certification bodies have to be in compliance with relevant international ISO standard (ISO/IEC Guide 65: 1996 (E)).
Every year ASI controls the continued implementation of FSC rules and procedures through at least one office and one field audit for each FSC accredited certification body. The exact number and distribution of ASI surveillance audits is calculated based on ASI’s sampling procedure taking into account complex settings (geographic areas, policies or products that carry increased risk) and the number of FSC certificates handled by a FSC accredited certification body.
Summaries of ASI surveillance audits are publicly available on the ASI web site at: www.accreditation-services.com. If an FSC accredited certification body is found to not fully comply with FSC rules and procedures, corrective action requests are raised. These have to be fulfilled within a certain time frame. Depending on the seriousness of the infringement the timeline can go from one year for minor administrative infringements to three months or less for major infringements. If the certification body fails to comply with FSC requirements within the given time the certification body will be suspended and loose its FSC accreditation.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that requires regular yearly controls of each forest management operation certified to its standards.
FSC accredited certification bodies certify and audit each individual forest management operation. If the forest management is in full compliance with FSC requirements, the FSC certificate is awarded. If the forest management is not fully compliant, pre-conditions are noted which have to be fulfilled before the FSC certificate can be awarded. If minor non-compliances are noted, the certificate can be issued with conditions that have to be met within a clearly determined timeframe.
FSC accredited certification bodies audit each FSC certificate at least once a year. If during these audits the certification body finds that a company has non-compliances with FSC requirements, Corrective Action Requests (CARs) are issued and the company is required to make the prescribed changes within a given timeframe or else it will loose its FSC certificate. Depending on the seriousness of the infringement the timeline can go from one year for minor administrative infringements to three months or less for major infringements.
FSC is the only global forest management certification system that also controls the non-certified timber content in FSC certified products.
Despite continued and sustained growth of the FSC market share, some shortages remain in the supply of FSC material. To allow manufacturers to provide FSC labeled products, FSC has introduced the ‘FSC Mixed Sources’ label, which allows manufacturing companies to mix FSC-certified material with non-certified material. The non-certified portion has to comply with the FSC Controlled Wood standards, which enable manufacturers and traders to avoid unacceptable timber and timber products. The five criteria avoided under FSC Controlled Wood are:
1. Illegally harvested wood
2. Wood harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights
3. Wood harvested in forests in which High Conservation Values (areas particularly worth of protection) are threatened through management activities
4. Wood harvested from conversion of natural forests
5. Wood harvested from areas where genetically modified trees are planted
FSC Controlled Wood must be independently verified before being allowed to be mixed with FSC certified material and become part of a product that can be sold as FSC and carry the FSC label.
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