November 2007

FSC proposes new, tighter regulations for certification

1 November 2007

In response to news reports and calls from environmental groups in regards to the certification of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), FSC rescinded the rights of APP to use the FSC logo.

Tighter regulations for meeting certification and association with FSC have also been proposed which requires any company wishing to associate with FSC (ie as members, or for certification) to have no involvement with activities such as illegal logging, destruction of HCVF, violation of traditional and civil rights, converiosn of natural forest into plantation or non-forest use and use of GMOs.

The propsed regulations are currently under public consultation which will end on 18 November.

Sources:

1. WSJ inquiry pushes FSC to cancel logging certification in endangered forest, mongabay.com, October 30, 2007
2. WRIGHT, Tom & CARLTON, Jim (October 30, 2007) FSC's 'Green' Label for Wood Products Gets Growing Pains in the Wall Street Journal, Page B1.
3. FSC documents under public consultation, FSC-POL-20-002 Policy for the Association with FSC - replacement of "partial certification" policy (FSC-POL-20-002 V3-0 Draft 2-0).