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Chain of Custody

Chain of Custody (CoC) certification provides a guarantee to consumers that any product with the FSC label can be tracked back to an FSC approved source.

To take legal ownership of, or to make any transformation to FSC material or products and make an FSC Claim requires Chain-of- Custody certification.

Who needs Chain of Custody Certification?
Chain of Custody Requirements
How do the three control systems work?
Frequently Asked Questions
Documents

FACT SHEET: Explaining Chain of Custody Certification (.pdf)

NEW! FSC Chain of Custody labeling threshold for FSC MIXED product groups– Transitory requirements

[Source: FSC International, Bonn, Germany] June 9th 2010 –FSC International has released a guidance document for Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate holders producing chip and fibre products (e.g. paper) and co-products using the Percentage or Transfer system. This only applies to product groups applying for the FSC Mix product label.

When the FSC CoC standard (FSC-STD-40-004 v2) was launched in 2007, there was an exemption which allowed manufacturers of chip and fibre products or co-products to use a 50% threshold for product labeling (FSC Mix label), which was intended to end on December 31st, 2010 when the threshold would rise to 70%. The recently released guidance requires that products produced at the 50% threshold be registered in a verified list with their certification body by the end of 2010, and that chip and fibre products meet the 70% labeling threshold (FSC Mix Label) by December 31st, 2015 and co-products by December 31st 2012. Any product not registered must have a labeling threshold (FSC Mix Label) of 70% by Jan 1, 2011.

For additional details click here.

To register your products or co-products, contact your Certification Body today: www.fsccanada.org/fsccertifiers.htm

Who needs Chain of Custody certification? back to top

To take legal ownership of, or to make any transformation to FSC material or products and make an FSC Claim requires Chain-of- Custody certification. Organizations not taking legal ownership of FSC-certified material or products (e.g. transport, bindery, sales agent) do not need Chain-of-Custody Certification.

Building and Construction	Requires CoC certification to sell FSC products?
Sawmills	YES
Primary Manufacturers	YES
Secondary Manufacturers	YES
Timber brokers	YES
Distributors/Wholesalers	YES
Installers (I.e. cabinetry)	YES
Millworkers	YES
Do it Yourself (DIY) retail outlets	NO
Trucking/Transportation companies	NO
Building Contractors	NO
Builders	NO
Architects	NO

Paper and Printing	Requires CoC certification to sell FSC products?
Pulp Mills	YES
Paper Mills	YES
Paper Merchants	YES
Printers	YES
Print Brokers	YES (ONLY if broker is purchasing FSC paper themselves and not working with an FSC printer. See below for more)
Office Supply retailer	NO
Bindery	NO
Publisher	NO
Graphic Designer	NO

NOTE on Print Broker Certification

A print broker MUST be FSC-certified if they purchase FSC-certified paper from the merchant directly and having it delivered to a printer and want the FSC label to be applied.
The broker is taking ownership of the FSC product and therefore considered within the 'chain of custody'. In this situation it is the broker that places the FSC label (and their certification code) on the document.This also means that the broker can choose to work with any printer, certified or not, since they are verifying the paper's authenticity and labeling it.
A print broker DOES NOT need to be FSC-certified if their printer is FSC-certified and purchases the paper from the merchant directly.
The broker in this case is not taking ownership of the FSC product and therefore not within the 'chain of custody'. In this situation it is the printer that places the FSC label (and their certification code) on the document.

Chain of Custody Requirements back to top

The requirements for Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification are summarized below. For further details, please refer to the official standard, FSC-STD-40-004 Version 2 (see bottom of page).

1. Quality management: responsibilities, procedures and records back to top

Responsibilities: Identify one person on staff responsible for compliance, and ensure all relevant staff are aware of the Chain of Custody procedures.
Procedures: Develop procedures for implementing Chain of Custody management.
Training: Develop and implement a training plan for staff on FSC CoC procedures.
Records: Maintain up-to-date records and retain these for at least five years.

2. Product scope: definition of Product Group(s) and outsourcing arrangements back to top

Product Groups: Single sites must group all FSC eligible products into one or more Product Groups. Products in a Product Group should share basic input and output characteristics. A Product Group may operate under any appropriate Control System, which governs
the allowable outgoing FSC Claim.
Outsourcing: Organizations that outsource to contractors may apply for inclusion of the outsourced process in their Chain of Custody certificate, as long as certain conditions are met (see standard for details).

3. Material sourcing: material specifications back to top

Input specifications: Upon receipt, record all inputs according to their material category: FSC Pure, FSC Mixed, FSC Recycled, FSC Controlled Wood, controlled material, postconsumer
reclaimed material, or pre-consumer reclaimed material.
Supplier validation: Maintain a list of all suppliers providing input material.

4. Material receipt and storage: identification and segregation back to top

Identification of input: When receiving material, make sure supplier invoice includes quantity of material, material category and the supplier’s certification code.
Segregation: Inputs used for FSC Product Groups must remain clearly identifiable and separable.
Precautions for labeling material: If an organization is going to sell pre-labeled materials unchanged, they must verify that the correct label is used.

5. Production control: control of quantities and determination of FSC Claims back to top

Conversion factors: For each Product Group, specify the conversion factor for each processing step. The conversion factor is the ratio between material quantity entering
and leaving a given transformation process.
Material balances: Per Product Group, a material accounting record must verify that the quantities produced with FSC Claims are compatible with the quantities of inputs
Determination of FSC Claims: Identify the FSC Claim for each claim period or job order according to the Control System specified for that Product Group.
Selection of Control System(s): Organizations must select a Control System(s) that is applicable and most suited to their operation.

Transfer Control System: For printers, print brokers, traders, and distributors.
Credit Control System: For manufacturers.
Percentage System: For printers and manufacturers.

6. Sales & delivery: invoicing and transport documentation back to top

Identification of outputs sold with FSC claims: For all outputs sold with FSC Claims include contact information, Chain of Custody number and product information on invoices and transportation documents.
Labeling of products: Products sold with an FSC Claim can not carry the label of other forest certification systems.
Supplying FSC Controlled Wood: The sale of FSC Controlled Wood must be in compliance with FSC-STD-40- 005.

7. Labeling: application of FSC labels on-product and labeling thresholds back to top

FSC Mixed Sources label: If a product carries the ‘FSC Mixed Credit’ Claim or an ‘FSC Mixed’ Percentage Claim of 50% or higher (70% as of January 1, 2009) it can carry the FSC Mixed Sources label.
FSC Recycled label: If a product carries an ‘FSC Recycled Credit’ Claim or an ‘FSC Recycled’ Claim of at least 85% it can carry an FSC Recycled label. The appropriate postconsumer recycled content percentage must be placed in the mobius loop (minimum 85% post-consumer waste).
FSC 100% label: All products with the FSC Pure claim can carry this label.

Click here for more information on FSC Labels

How do the three Control Systems work? back to top

As part of the requirements for CoC certification, a company must select which of three Control Systems they will be using for each Product Group; these may be the same or different Control Systems. The Control System identifies what quantity (volume or weight) of product can be sold with an FSC Claim, based on the source of the fibre that is used in that Product Group. The FSC Claim that is associated with a product indicates whether that product can, or cannot, carry an FSC label.

Transfer System: For companies engaged in trading activities related to finished products, and for the production of FSC Pure products. For e.g. Distributors, Sawmills, Timber brokers, Printers.

How it works:

Material purchased with an FSC Claim is sold with the same FSC Claim.
Materials with different FSC Claims that are combined will be sold with the FSC Claim that is the most inclusive (reflects multiple fibre types in the product). E.g. FSC Recycled + FSC Mixed = FSC Mixed claim.
If material that is FSC Controlled Wood is combined with material that has an FSC Claim, then an FSC Label may NOT be used on the final product if the company is operating under the transfer system.

Why choose the Transfer System:

If you are a Printer and do not anticipate that you will be mixing FSC-certified paper with non-FSC-certified paper; or
If you are a Printer and do not have the ability to verify that any non-FSC-certified paper meets the FSC Controlled Wood Requirements; or
If you are a trader, distributor, or merchant of finished products; or
If you only purchase and sell material that is FSC Pure.

Percentage System: For companies manufacturing products with FSC Mixed and FSC Recycled claims. Not for trading activities related to finished products. For e.g. Sawmills, Primary/Secondary Manufacturer, Printers.

How it works:

Products with different FSC Claims are combined and sold with an FSC Percentage Claim (e.g. ‘FSC Mixed XX%’)
All (100%) of the product is sold with an FSC Percentage Claim, and this percentage reflects the amount of FSC virgin fibre and/or the amount of post-consumer recycled fibre in the product. The remainder of the fibre must be verified as FSC Controlled Wood.
For materials purchased with an FSC Percentage Claim (e.g. FSC Mixed XX%), only the percentage of material that is designated (e.g. XX%) qualifies for use in further calculations.
For materials with an FSC Percentage Claim, the Percentage must be equal to or higher than 50% (70% as of Jan. 1, 2009) in order for the product to be eligible to carry an FSC Label.

Why choose the Percentage System

If you have a consistent supply of FSC-certified fibre and/or post-consumer recycled fibre that equals or exceeds 50% (70% as of Jan. 1, 2009); or
If you do not have a consistent supply of FSC-certified fibre and/or post-consumer recycled fibre that equals or exceeds 50% (70% as of Jan. 1, 2009), BUT you do not need to put an FSC Label on your product, and are selling it to a CoC certified company that wants to use your material as input into their production; AND
If you are able to verify that any non-FSC-certified material mixed in with FSC material meets the FSC Controlled Wood Requirements;

Credit System: For companies manufacturing products with FSC Mixed and FSC Recycled claims. Not for trading activities related to finished products, and not for Printers. For e.g. Sawmills, Primary/Secondary Manufacturer.

How it works

Products with different FSC Claims are combined and sold with an FSC Credit Claim (e.g. ‘FSC Mixed Credit’)
Only a portion of the product is sold with an FSC Claim. The amount sold with an FSC Credit Claim is equal to the amount of fibre in the product that is FSC-certified and/or postconsumer recycled. The remainder of the fibre must be verified as FSC Controlled Wood, and is sold as FSC Controlled Wood.
For materials purchased with an FSC Credit Claim, all (100%) of that material qualifies for use in further calculations.
For materials with an FSC Credit Claim, that product is eligible to carry the FSC Mixed Sources or FSC Recycled Label.

Why choose the Credit System

If you have an inconsistent or small supply of FSC-certified fibre and/or post-consumer fibre, but would still like to sell a portion of your product as FSC-certified, and eligible to carry an FSC Label; and
If you are able to verify that any non-FSC-certified material mixed in with FSC material meets the FSC Controlled Wood Requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions back to top

What type of FSC Labels are there, and how do I know which one to use? back to top

In order for a product to carry the FSC label, every step in the supply chain between the forest and the final product must be FSC Chain of Custody certified. Companies that are Chain of Custody certified use Control Systems to determine what quantity of their product can carry an FSC Claim, and therefore whether it can carry an FSC Label. There are three types of FSC labels that products may carry:

The FSC Pure label identifies products where 100% of the fibre comes from an FSC-certified forest. Products with the FSC Claim of ‘FSC Pure’ qualify for this label
The FSC Mixed Sources label identifies products that are manufactured using a mixture of FSC-certified material with recycled fibre, and/or Controlled fibre. Products with the FSC Claim of ‘FSC Mixed Credit’ or ‘FSC Mixed XX%’, where XX% is equal to or higher than 50% (70% as of Jan. 1, 2009) qualify for this label.
The FSC Recycled label identifies products where 100% of the fibre is recycled, and a minimum of 85% is post-consumer recycled fibre. Products with the FSC Claim of ‘FSC Recycled Credit’ or ‘FSC Recycled XX%’, where XX% is equal to or higher than 85% qualify for this label. The value of XX% must be placed within the mobius loop and represents the percentage of postconsumer recycled fibre in the product.

Click here for more information on FSC Labels

What is an FSC Claim? back to top

An FSC Claim is a claim made by a CoC certified company on invoices, which identifies product that is wholly or in part FSC-certified. Depending on the FSC Claim, the product may or may not qualify to carry an FSC Label. If it does not qualify to carry an FSC Label, but carries an FSC claim, it may still be used in further processing by CoC certified companies.

What is a Product Group? back to top

A Product Group consists of one or more products, specified by a CoC certified company, that share basic input and output characteristics and thus can be combined for the purpose of FSC Chain of Custody Control System calculations and labeling. For each Product Group identified companies must be able to track the quantity and Material Category for all fibre being used to manufacture products in that Product Group.

What are eligible Material Categories for fibre that is combined to make an FSC-certified product? back to top

The following categories of virgin or reclaimed material may be used in FSC Product Groups.

Material purchased from an FSC-certified company:
− FSC Pure material
− FSC Mixed material: May be ‘FSC Mixed Credit’ or ‘FSC Mixed XX%’. If the claim is ‘FSC Mixed XX%’, then only XX% of volume or weight of material is considered as ‘FSC Mixed’, the remainder is considered ‘FSC Controlled Wood’
− FSC Recycled material: May be ‘FSC Recycled Credit’ or ‘FSC Recycled XX%’. If the claim is ‘FSC Recycled XX%’, then only XX% of volume or weight of material is considered as ‘FSC Recycled’, the remainder is considered ‘FSC Controlled Wood’.
− FSC Controlled Wood: Purchased from an FSC Chain of Custody certified company, or from a company that has been audited against the Controlled Wood standard.

Material verified by the company undergoing certification:
− Controlled material: This is material that the company undergoing certification has had verified as meeting the Controlled Wood standard.
− Post-consumer reclaimed material: This is material that the company undergoing certification has had verified as meeting the criteria of post-consumer reclaimed material.
− Pre-consumer reclaimed material: This is material that the company undergoing certification has had verified

Documents back to top

Document Name	Date Issued	PDF
FSC-STD-40-004 Version 2 FSC Standard for Chain of Custody Certification	2007	Download
FSC-STD-40-007 FSC Standard for Sourcing Reclaimed Material for Use in FSC Product Groups or FSC-certified Projects	2007	Download
FSC-PRO-40-004 FSC Procedure. Minor Components Derogation Applications	2007	Download
FSC-ADV-40-004 FSC Advice Note Transitory Requirements for Chain of Custody Control and Labelling	2007	Download
FSC-STD-40-003 Multi-site Certification of Chain of Custody Operations	2007	Download
FSC-STD-20-011 Accreditation Standard for Chain of Custody Evaluations	2007	Download