Chain of Custody Standards

Chain of custody certification provides a guarantee about the production of FSC-certified products and is the path taken by raw materials from the forest to the consumer. This includes all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution.

A product can only carry the FSC label or logo if the forest receives an FSC forest management certificate, and if all steps along the supply chain receive a chain of custody certificate.

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

Chain of Custody certification standards are developed at the international level by FSC International.  Working with environmental, social, and industry stakeholders, the standards apply to all members of the supply chain between the forest and the final consumer.

For more information on Chain of Custody certification and how to become certified, visit the Chain of Custody Certification page.

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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

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Documents

Standards

Document Name	Date Issued	PDF
FSC-STD-40-004 Version 2 FSC Standard for Chain of Custody Certification	2007	Download
FSC-STD-40-004a Product Classification	2007	Download
FSC-STD-40-004b Species Terminology	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-STD-40-003 Multi-site Certification of Chain of Custody Operations	2007	Download

Guidance and Discussion Notes (back to top)

Document Name	Date Issued	PDF
FSC-ADV-40-017 FSC Certified CoC Contractors	2010	Download
FSC-ADV-40-018 Scope of FSC-STD-40-003 (multisite certification)	2010	Download
FSC-ADV-20-010 V1 Evalution of Minor Components Derogation Appliction	2009	Download
FSC-PRO-40-004 V2 Minor Components Derogation Applications	2009	Download
FSC-PRO-40-004a V1 List of Approved Minor Component Derogations	2009	Download
FSC-PRO-40-004b V1 Form for Minor Component Derogation Applications and Evaluations	2009	Download
FSC-ADV-40-004 FSC Advice Note Transitory Requirements for Chain of Custody Control and Labelling	2007	Download
FSC-ADV-40-012 Advice Note: Printers - COC & Labelling Specifics	2007	Download
FSC-POL-40-002 Group Certification Chain of Custody Guidelines	2004	Download

Factsheet (back to top)

Document Name	Date Issued	PDF
Chain of Custody Fact Sheet	2008	Download

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