ASI schedules 12 additional audits in China - August 1st, 2007

Accreditation Services International (ASI) – managing the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) accreditation program - will perform twelve field surveillance audits to seven FSC accredited certification bodies in China in mid - August 2007. ASI scheduled these audits in addition to the regular surveillance audits it performs year-round. The decision to undertake additional surveillance audits in China comes in response to the very rapid growth of FSC certification in China and follows concerns of a number of stakeholders regarding the potential misuse of the FSC trademark in China.

The aim of these field surveillance audits is to better understand the cause of concern, and be prepared to address quickly and effectively any potential risks to the credibility of the FSC trademark. The surveillance audits in August are part of an action plan developed to guarantee the credibility of FSC in China. In preparation of the audits ASI has organized a number of meetings with stakeholders involved in the country.

FSC is the fastest growing forest certification scheme in China. ASI has been carefully monitoring the issuance of FSC certificates in China and is building in-country capacity, which will provide local support to strengthen the integrity of the FSC trademark in China. Currently there are more than 320 FSC Chain of Custody certificates and six FSC Forest Management certificates covering over 700’000 hectares of forest in the country. FSC Chain of Custody certification is the guarantee for traceability of FSC certified timber through the production process.

If you have any concerns about misuse of the FSC Trademark, please contact ASI at accreditation@accreditation-services.com.

For further information, please visit www.fsc.org or contact:

• Nina Haase, Communications Manager, FSC International Center, Bonn, Germany: Tel. +49 228 367 66 29, n.haase@fsc.org

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