FSC CoC standards

Download FSC standards and other documents that are relevant for your certificate. Follow our updates to ensure that you are aware of the latest changes.

The scope of your certificate decides which parts of the Forest Stewardship Council^TM (FSC^TM) rules that apply to you.

Are you unsure of which documents are relevant for your certificate? Feel free to contact us - we will be happy to assist you.

Note: On this page, you will find the updates and FSC documents that apply specifically to CoC certificates. Or click here to find links to a few other FSC documents that apply to all FSC certificate holders. These documents are also important for you to be aware of.

The FSC Chain of Custody page on the FSC official website, is a resource center where FSC updates and documents can be found.

FSC CoC Standard update

Changes announced by FSC in 2021

The FSC International Board of Directors has approved the addition of FSC Core Labour Requirements based on ILO Core Conventions to the FSC Chain of Custody standards.

The FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1 Chain of Custody Certification now includes:

abolition of child labour, elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, respect of freedom of association, and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
adopting and implementing policy statements that encompass the FSC Core Labour Requirement
demonstrating compliance through certification with other social certifications
an option for other organisations such as certification bodies to submit certification schemes which comply to the FSC Core Labour Requirements
incorporating a risk-based approach via self-assessments in which organisations describe how they apply the requirements to their operations

Organisations looking to fulfil the requirements specified by the FSC core labour requirements can download the fillable Self-Assessment template here: English | Spanish

Additionally, for further details, there are country-specific FSC Core Labour Requirements Self-Assessment Templates available on the FSC official website.

For more information, on the FSC core labour requirements, check out:

If you need support in creating your own company-specific supply chain procedures, we have prepared a sample FSC CoC procedures document to serve as guidance for single-site certificate holders using the transfer system. Click here to download the free sample.

Changes announced by FSC 2017

Click here for an overview of the main changes to the Standard that comes into force on 1 April 2017.

Changes announced by FSC 2015

May be relevant if you use pre-consumer reclaimed input material:

Advice Note	Change/new requirements	Published	Effective
Advice note on pre-consumer reclaimed wood (ADVICE-40-004-13)	FSC CoC certificate holders may now classify pre-consumer reclaimed paper materials as equivalent to FSC certified and post-consumer reclaimed materials for the purpose of determining the FSC Mix or FSC Recycled output claims for products controlled under the percentage or credit system.	7 October 2015	7 October 2015

Changes announced by FSC 2014

May be relevant if you use pre-consumer reclaimed material:

Advice Note

Change/new requirements

Published

Deadline for compliance

Advice note on pre-consumer reclaimed wood (ADVICE-40-004-12)

If you are based in the EU and are importing FSC products from non-EU countries that may possibly contain pre-consumer reclaimed wood material (except paper scraps): If you re-sell these products on the EU market, or use them in FSC products that you sell on the EU market, then the Advice Note obliges you to actively seek information from your supplier on whether the product contains pre-consumer reclaimed material or not. In case this cannot be excluded, then the Advice Note further obliges you to “exercise due diligence” to ensure that those products do not contain illegally harvested timber. This reflects your existing obligations under the EUTR.
If you are based outside of the EU and are selling FSC products to EU buyers that contain pre-consumer reclaimed material (except paper scraps): The advice note obliges you to inform your EU buyer take one of the following two actions:

1. Either you must inform your EU buyer about the presence of pre-consumer reclaimed material (except paper scraps), and be willing to assist your EU buyer in exercising due diligence. You will normally need to provide information on the origin of the products and on which species they contain.

2. Or you must ensure that pre-consumer reclaimed material is Controlled Wood according to the FSC Standard for Company Evaluation of Controlled Wood (FSC-STD-40-005). If you choose this option with regard to co-products, you can use the requirements set out in ADVICE-40-005-17. In terms of risk assessment, FSC refers you to ADVICE-40-005-20.

15 August 2014

1 October 2014

Changes announced by FSC 2012-2013

Relevant for all FSC chain of custody certificate holders:

Advice note

Change/new requirements

Published

Deadline for compliance

Advice note on non-
conforming products (ADVICE-40-004-08)

Certificate holders are required to have procedures in place to deal effectively with non-conforming products. Small companies are exempt from having a written procedure

27 February 2013

Advice note on access to information (ADVICE-40-004-10)

Information on species, scientific or trade name and origin of FSC certified or controlled wood products must be provided at your buyer's request. This applies regardless of whether the buyer is certified or not.

FSC CoC certificate holders must provide proof of compliance with relevant trade and customs laws, if so requested by their buyers.

27 February 2013

Relevant if you import or export certified products:

Advice note	Change/new requirements	Published	Deadline for compliance
Advice note on trade and customs laws (ADVICE-40-004-11)	You are required to have procedures in place to ensure that the commercialisation of FSC certified products comply with all applicable trade and custom laws.	27 February 2013	27 February 2013

Relevant if you trade in FSC products including Minor Components:

Advice note

Change/new requirements

Published

Deadline for compliance

Advice note on minor components (ADVICE-40-004-09)

The use of non-certified and uncontrolled minor components in FSC products is being phased out. This happens in three steps - see under deadlines.

27 February 2013

Until end-2013, any minor components need to comply with timber regulations in place in the market where you sell your products (e.g. if you sell them in the EU market, then your products need to comply with the EUTR).

After 31 December 2013, production of FSC products containing 'minor components' is no longer allowed.

After 31 December 2014, the sale of FSC products containing 'minor components 'is no longer allowed.

Multiple Site Standard update

Changes announced by FSC 2014

Based on feedback regarding Clause 6.2 of FSC-STD-40-003, FSC has decided to revise the requirement as follows:

Previous version (FSC-STD-40-003 V2-0):	New version (FSC-STD-40-003 V2-1):
6.2. For sale of FSC-certified products, Participating Sites shall use their assigned sub-code on sales documentation.	6.2. For sale of FSC-certified products, Participating Sites may use their assigned sub-code on sales documentation.

Note that you still need to apply certificate codes to sales documents - this is a mandatory requirement as specified in the FSC Chain of Custody Standard (FSC-STD-40-004). However, Participating Sites may now choose to use their own sub-code or the multi-site/Group certificate code on sales documents. They may also use both codes.