New FSC report highlights strengths of FSC Controlled Wood standards
A recently released FSC report reveals the outcomes of an analysis between the schemes, systems and standards of FSC, PEFC, and the PEFC-endorsed schemes PEFC Germany and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The report highlights the strengths of the FSC Controlled Wood standards, and provides important information for certificate holders and certification bodies.
Material certified by the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) does not meet the requirements of the FSC Controlled Wood standards (FSC CW). Therefore PEFC certified material cannot be mixed with FSC certified material without further examination of its origin and the associated risk.
This was the conclusion of an analysis that FSC conducted to investigate whether other forest certification schemes would fulfill the requirements for FSC Controlled Wood. FSC CW is the minimum standard in the FSC certification scheme. Non-certified material must comply with FSC CW and be independently verified before it is mixed with certified material. FSC CW ensures a minimum performance level on the ground to avoid illegal harvesting, violation of traditional and civil rights, threats to High Conservation Values, conversion from forests and other wooded ecosystems and the use of Genetically Modified Organisms.
The analysis shows that none of the examined PEFC standards addresses all categories avoided under FSC CW. Certification bodies are now aware that due to the considerable gaps between the FSC CW standard and the PEFC standards, PEFC certified material does not automatically meet FSC Controlled Wood standards.
A summary of the report and the clarification for certification bodies on PEFC and FSC Controlled Wood standards is available online at www.fsc.org/whyfsc.html. The full report, as well as translated versions of the summary and the full report, will be available online in the coming weeks.
For more information on FSC Controlled Wood, please visit www.fsc.org/cw.html.
