The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)

What is FSC® Certification?

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®/ FSC® Certification) is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. Since its foundation in 1994, FSC has grown to become the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification system.

FSC’s pioneering certification system, which now covers more than 200 million hectares of forest, enables businesses and consumers to choose wood, paper, and other forest products made with materials that support responsible forestry.

Objective of FSC®:

The FSC’s stated mission is to “promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests”. To this end, the body has published a global strategy with five goals: Advancing globally responsible forest management.

FSC® Certification process:

Application and Contract

You can apply online for the FSC® Certification or complete the Application form and return it to GCL International Ltd. head office or one of our local office. We will use the application details to produce a quotation. Once the quotation has been accepted, we will ask you to return a signed copy of the quotation and our Scheme Rules.

Preparation for the Initial FSC® Certification Audit

• The following documents are supplied prior to the initial certification:
• Copies of latest FSC standards
• Client Self-Assessment checklist for the standard. We will ask back the filled Self-Assessment checklist
• Audit Plan
• The applicant must submit the participating sites list and sub-contractor list before the audit if applicable
• Trademark License agreement to be signed online

Initial certification audit:

• Opening meeting
• On-site Audit
• Preparation of Audit Report (including Findings)
• Closing meeting

Following the completion of the inspection or on-site audit, a report detailing the findings is provided. Subject to the closure of Major non-conformances or findings (if any), a Scope Certificate is issued. The certificate will be valid for 5 years with conditions as mentioned in the FSC standard.

Usage of FSC® label

The certified organizations can use both On-Product and Promotional FSC usage which are generated from the FSC logo generator. All the certified organizations need to submit their artwork (Promotional and On-Product) to GCL for each usage of FSC logo or FSC trademark for approval. Before each FSC logo or FSC trademark usage, approval for the usage is mandatory.

Surveillance or Re-certification audits

GCL International will communicate with the client to plan for the surveillance audits or Re-certification audits.

For any changes in scope of the FSC certificate, the applicant organization has to inform GCL. Changes may be change in product, change in address, addition of sub-contractors, addition of sites etc. GCL will conduct a scope enhancement audit for the scope changes and a report will be prepared for the same. Subject to the closure of any non-conformances or findings (if any), a Scope Certificate is issued with changes in scope.

In a certification cycle 4 surveillance audits will be conducted in during a certification cycle. A detailed audit report will be prepared by GCL. Subject to the closure of any non-conformances or findings (if any), continuation of the FSC certificate will be recommended.

Re-Certification audit will be conducted just before the expiry of the existing certificate. A detailed audit report will be prepared by GCL. Subject to the closure of any non-conformances or findings (if any), A new scope certificate with validity of 5 years will be issued.

General Publication Part:

• FSC® Standards
• FSC® Scheme rules
• Request Operator Handbook
• Request Fee structure
• Link for Client Database