Forest Stewardship Council® Chain of Custody (FSC CoC)

Consumers are becoming more and more critical. They increasingly desire products that are manufactured according to ecological and social criteria. By indicating the FSC^® Logo, companies ensure wood originates from sustainably cultivated forests. Certified companies can place the FSC^® Logo directly on the product and can use this logo for advertising purposes. As the number of critical consumers is growing and FSC^® gained an increasing degree of recognition, FSC^® provides companies with a simple management tool, which enables them to work sustainably and communicate their actions in a credible way.

In 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC^®) was established as a worldwide independent and non-profit organization by environmental bodies, representatives of domestic ethnical groups and companies active in forestry and timber industry. FSC^® is a member-based organization that is open to any individual and legal entities.

The certification procedure helps to achieve cultivation of forests that is

• ecologically compatible
• socially compatible as well as
• economically sustainable

and to improve the marketing of timber produced in a manner that is ecologically and socially correct. In addition, itaims to support companies active in forestry and timber industry to continually improve their performance.

• sawing and plaugh mills
• wood processing industry
• building joiners and cabinet makers
• carpenters
• timber trade
• paper industry and trade
• print officies, publishing companies and bookbindery

FSC^® has established ten principles for forest certification (FSC Forest Management FM), which are valid all over the world. Among other things, the following elements are essential:

• compliance with the laws and FSC^® principles, conformity to labour laws and health protection
• respecting the rights of ownership and rights of use and enjoyment
• endeavours to protect, maintain and preserve the relationship with the local population
• renouncing clear-cutting
• principle of regeneration
• establishing reservations
• planning and control documentation
• preserving the protective forests
• maintaining biodiversity

Certification of the Chain of Custody (FSC^® CoC) requires the following:

• documented control system
• acknowledgement of receipt of goods
• separation and/or identification of certified and non-certified received goods
• safe product labelling
• identification of certified outgoing goods
• accounting

Upon successful certification, FSC^® CoC Certificates can be granted for five years. Every year a Surveillance Audit will take place. FSC^® CoC Certificates are recognized on an internationally.

For more detailed information visit: FSC International FSC CoC Certification FSC CoC Standards and Interpretations FSC database

Quality Austria - Trainings, Zertifizierungs und Begutachtungs GmbH is accredited for the certification of FSC^® Coc by ASI since 19^th January 2015 with the accreditation number ASI-ACC-071. More information can be found here. The regulation for FSC^® CoC audits can be found in the download area.

Advice: in the context of FSC^® Quality Austria does not offer any audits or certifications according to FSC-STD-40-005 V3-1 Requirements for Sourcing FSC Controlled Wood. Current FSC CoC Standards, Interpretations, Policy etc can be found here.

ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EMAS, Sustainability Reports, Austria Quality Seal, Ecolabel

• Flyer FSC CoC - pdf (967 KB)
• FSC CoC – Annual Administration Fee - pdf (338 KB)
• FSC Interpretations – Chain of Custody - pdf (828 KB)
• FSC Interpretations – Trademark - pdf (382 KB)
• Access Instructions: FSC Trademark Training for Certificate Holders - pdf (160 KB)
• Trademark Quick Guide for Certificate Holders - pdf (5 MB)