Forest Certification - FSC® Chain of Custody (CoC), VLHH (Legality Assurance Verification), V-legal (Legality Assurance) and SFM (Mandatory scheme)

Strengthen the Trust of Your Customers – with Our FSC® Certifications for Your Forest Management or Chain of Custody

The environmental awareness of end consumers and in the industry and economy is growing, leading to an increased demand for wood products from responsible sources. But for the customer it is often difficult to trace the origin of products and the way the forest was managed or to recognize wood-based materials from responsibly managed forests.

Responsible forest management can be verified by a FSC® Forest Management Certification. The management of your forests will be assessed according to the FSC® principles and will be certified upon successful compliance with the criteria.

With a FSC® Certification you also demonstrate to your customers that you care about the chain from the management of the forest to the finished wood product. We certify your entire product chain (chain of custody), i.e. all owners of the wood starting at the forest via the entire production and retail chain to the finished product.

Secure your competitive edge now and contact our experts about your FSC® Certification.

Demonstrate the Use of Responsibly Produced Raw Materials you’re your Environmental Awareness – with Our FSC® Certifications

In order to label your goods with a registered FSC® logo or to sell them as FSC® certified products, as a member of a production and commercial chain you will need a FSC® Chain of Custody Certification. As a forestry business, a FSC® Forest Management Certification gives you the opportunity to document your responsible management of the forest. This way you can demonstrate the use of responsibly manufactured raw materials for the production of your products along the entire production and retail chain – a clear advantage over your competitors.

In addition, all holders of a FSC® certificate issued by us are entered into our data base and are also announced on the official website of the FSC®. This is an additional benefit for you, because manufacturers, users or consumers are using these sites to research FSC® certified forestry businesses and companies along the product chain.

The Way to Your Competitive Advantage – Three Steps to Your FSC® Certificate

The FSC® rules and regulations in combination with our certification program form the basis for your FSC® Certification. Depending on the type and origin of your products and the number of locations to be certified, different FSC® standards apply. The FSC® Certification process has the following three steps:

Quotation Phase
You contact our experts and we will send you all relevant application materials and any additional information needed for a FSC® Certification. After you returned to us the completed questionnaire and provided all relevant basic information, we will prepare an individual quotation for your FSC® Certification. You will then send the signed quotation back to us, including application form and license agreement.
On-site Audits
Our expert auditors conduct audits on location at your company sites to assess for instance whether an intermixing of certified and non-certified wood can be ruled out and to identify any weak points. Audits include talks with the Executive Management and employees to establish conformity with the requirements of the applicable FSC® standards.
Conformity Assessment and Certificate
All audit results will be provided to you in a conformity assessment, where we also inform you of any non-conformities. After a positive assessment, you will receive your FSC® certificate and the right to use the registered FSC® logo. Subsequent annual surveillance audits will ensure the continuous improvement of your processes.

Obtain a FSC® Certification for Your Company

With an easy and transparent certification process, the DIN CERTCO experts are your partner for a successful FSC® Certification. Our 40 years experience in the certification business and a large network of seasoned experts will give you the expertise needed for your professional FSC® Certification.

Demonstrate and document sustainability and environmental awareness with the registered FSC® logo. Contact us for your custom quotation now.

Special contact for customers located in China, HongKong and Taiwan

DIN CERTCO established cooperation with TUV Rheinland in order to provide local support to customers located in China, HongKong, and Taiwan.
For further questions, please refer to DIN CERTCO in Berlin or the affiliate office in Shanghai.

In case you do not wish support by our local partner, please let us know when applying for certification.


Downloads	Important Documents for Your FSC® Certification

General FAQ about the Forest Stewardship Council FSC

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What is FSC®?

The Forest Stewardship Council, FSC® in short, was founded in 1993 and is a non-governmental, non-profit organization. Together with international environmental organizations, labor unions, representatives of indigenous peoples and with companies from the forest sector and the timber industry, FSC® advocates for an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically viable use of forests. FSC® is open to everyone who is interested in sustainable forest management and in the preservation of our forests.

What are the goals of FSC®?

FSC® wants to make a contribution to the sustainable management of our forests worldwide. In this context, FSC® serves as an alliance of representatives who have different forest-related interests. All representatives are constantly working on a meaningful consensus for a responsible forest management, which is leading to the development of management standards and marketing methods for forest products. The most important marketing tool of FSC® certified products is the registered FSC® logo.

What is the path from sustainable forest management to a FSC® certified product?

The FSC® standard specifies environmental and social minimum standards for the management of forests. Independent certification organizations such as DIN CERTCO annually verify the compliance of each forest owner with these standard in on-site audits. Upon successful inspection by an independent third party, forest owners may label their products with the FSC® logo and use the logo to market their products. Additional periodic inspections of the further processing of the wood ensure that the FSC® labeled wood is not mixed with non-certified wood, which would not be permissible. This leads to a seal, which consumers recognize and equate with responsible forest management.

What are the principles and criteria for a FSC® Certification of forests?

FSC® has defined globally consistent FSC® principles for a responsible forest management, which are implemented on the national level in the form of indicators. Compliance with the following principles is required:

Principle 1: Compliance with laws and FSC® principles
Principle 2: Claims of ownership, land use rights, responsibilities
Principle 3: Rights of indigenous peoples
Principle 4: Relationships with local communities and labor rights
Principle 5: Benefits from the forest
Principle 6: Environmental impacts
Principle 7: Management plan
Principle 8: Monitoring and evaluation
Principle 9: Maintenance of forests with high conservation values
Principle 10: Management of plantations

Are the same standards applied for certifications worldwide?

The FSC® Certification and the FSC® standard are based on the internationally consistent principles and criteria of FSC®. As the ecological, social and economic conditions differ from country to country, the national standards for each country are put in concrete terms and may contain different indicators. However, the national FSC® working groups in each country are required to align and harmonize their FSC® standards with their neighboring countries.

Why is the use of the FSC® logo so strictly regulated?

It is the responsibility of all FSC® certified companies to ensure that only products made from FSC® certified raw materials are carrying the logo. This is assured by a unique and individual certification number and an individual logo license number within the logo. This gives your customers the opportunity to track each product from the forest over processing to retail. Verifying the adherence to this process is the role of independent third parties like DIN CERTCO.

What is the difference between an ISO Certification and a FSC® Certification?

ISO Certifications focus on processes and management well as on the quality of products. Unlike the FSC® logo, the ISO certificate cannot be affixed directly to your wood products. Because you can have both, an ISO and a FSC® Certification for your company, both standards together often offer a perfect combination.

Does FSC® allow the management of plantations?

The FSC® Certification of plantations is regulated by strictly defined framework conditions. Further information is available on the FSC® website.

What is the position of FSC® on genetically modified organisms?

FSC® generally prohibits the use of genetically modified tree species. There are no exceptions.

In which countries does DIN CERTCO offers FSC certification services?

FSC COC
This service is offered at a world-wide scope.
Our accreditation also include the FSC-STD-40-005 standard.

FSC FM (Forest Management)
This service is offered in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
DIN CERTCO is in possession of a valid accreditation by ASI (Accreditation Service International) for the aforementioned areas.

FAQ about Our FSC® CoC Certification Service

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How can I give DIN CERTCO’S SERVICE a feedback?

We would like to have your feedback at info@dincertco.de or +49307562-1131

Alternatively you can use our form. The general handling of complaints is governed by our terms and conditions. The special features of FSC section can be found in our published document „complaint procedure FSC“

Where can I find the current versions of the FSC® standards?

The current versions and further information about the FSC® Certification and other applicable documents can be found in the FSC® Rules and Regulations.

Where can I find general information about FSC®?

General information can be found on the website FSC® International.

What are the duties and responsibilities of the certificate holder?

The requirements of the certification program and the applied standards must be taken into account. DIN CERTCO must be informed about all changes related to management or resources. Any established non-conformities must be corrected in due time and the corrective action taken must be communicated to DIN CERTCO and the auditor in charge. Declarations and the use of the FSC® logo are only allowed after a successful issue of the certificate and only for the scope indicated on the certificate.

Who do I contact to have the use of my logo approved by the certification body?

Please send any inquiries about logo approval/print approval to the following email address: druckfreigabe.fsc@de.tuv.com

Can I combine a FSC® CoC Certification with a PEFC™ CoC Certification?

Yes, that is possible. If you are interested in a FSC® CoC Certification in combination with PEFC™-CoC, please let us know directly when you first contact us. It will be taken into account when preparing your quotation and selecting the auditor.

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Disclaimer: At TÜV Rheinland, the neutrality, objectivity, independency and impartiality of our activities are of utmost importance. Our assessment and audit activities follow these values in compliance with the applicable accreditation requirements. All the necessary structural, organizational and processual measures are in place in all levels of the organization in order to avoid conflicts of interest (e.g. rigorous separation of consultancy and certification) and to ensure impartiality. We do not offer or provide management system consultancy by an accredited certification body for management systems. Within the TR Group, we ensure a minimum 2-year interval between management system consultancy and certification activity for the same costumer.

S-PHL (Certification on Sustainable Forest Management) a mandatory scheme

The Indonesian government, specifically the ministry of environment and forestry, requires all forest management operating in Indonesia to conduct this assessment/certification. This certification is based on Minister of Forestry Regulation No. 8 of 2021 concerning Forest Management and Preparation of Forest Management Plans, and Forest Utilization in Protected and Production Forests. Meanwhile, the assessment standards and guidelines refer to the Minister of Forestry Regulation No. SK. 9895/MenLHK-PHL/BPPHH/HPL.3/12/2022 dated December 14, 2022 concerning Standards and Guidelines for the Implementation of the Legality and Sustainability Verification System..

The regulation stipulates the type of forest management unit, the assessment standards and guidelines used, the validity period of the certificate and the time of assessment, as follows:

Certificate Scheme: S-PHL

Scope of Certification: Forest Utilization Business Licensing (PBPH) in Production Forests, PBPH in Protected Forests and Management Rights Holders (e.g Perhutani)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 1.1;1.2 and 2.1 (assessment standard)

Validity Period of Certificate

Annex 1.3 (guidelines) 6 years (the final performance score with predicate "Medium" or "Good"

S-PHL

- Surveillance 24 months for “Good” grade; 18 months for “Medium” of final performance score.

S-Legalitas (for initial certification)

- 12 months of surveillance only once for PBPH and Forest management rights (e.g Perhutani)

Verifikasi Legalitas Hasil Hutan (VLHH) dan V-Legal Dokumen (Timber Legality Assurance System (VLHH) & V-Legal Document)

Verification of Forest Legality (VLHH) is a verification mechanism in the timber legality assurance system for upstream and downstream distribution of forest timber in Indonesia. This verification/certification is mandatory for forest management units as timber producers in the upstream and timber-processing primary industries and timber-based advanced industries in the downstream.

This verification/certification is based on the Minister of Forestry Regulation No. 8 of 2021 concerning Forest Administration and Preparation of Forest Management Plans, as well as Forest Utilization in Protected Forests and Production Forests. Meanwhile, the assessment standards and guidelines refer to the Minister of Forestry Regulation No. SK. 9895/MenLHK-PHL/BPPHH/HPL.3/12/2022 dated December 14, 2022 concerning Standards and Guidelines for the Implementation of the Legality and Sustainability Verification System.

The regulation stipulates the type of forest management unit and industrial license, the assessment standards and guidelines used, the validity period of the certificate and the time of assessment, as follows

Certification Scheme: Legality Certificate (S-Legalitas)

Scope of Certification/License Holder:

1. Forest Utilization Business Licensing (PBPH) in Production Forests, PBPH in Protected Forests and Management Rights Holders (e.g Perhutani)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 2.1 (assessment standard) and Annex 2.5 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 3
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 12

2. Timber Utilization of Non-Forestry Activities (PKKNK)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 2.2 (assessment standard) and Annex 2.5 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 1
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 6

2. Social Forestry Management License (PPPS)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 2.3 (assessment standard) and Annex 2.5 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 24

2. Social Forestry Management License (PPPS)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 2.3 (assessment standard) and Annex 2.5 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 24

4. Cultivation Rights Forest

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 2.4 (assessment standard) and Annex 2.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 9
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 36

5. Natural Rights Forest

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 2.4 (assessment standard) and Annex 2.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 9
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 12

6. Business License of Forest Product Processing (PBPHH/Perizinan Berusaha Pengolahan Hasil Hutan)/Bussiness Licensing for Industrial Business Activities (PB untuk Kegiatan Usaha Industri)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 3.1; 3.2 (assessment standard) and Annex 3.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 12
- Notes: All wood materials and/or its derivate :
  - - Raw materials of wood from natural forest
  - - Raw materials of wood from Cultivation Forest of State Forest and/or
  - - Listed on CITES

6. Business License of Forest Product Processing (PBPHH/Perizinan Berusaha Pengolahan Hasil Hutan)/Bussiness Licensing for Industrial Business Activities (PB untuk Kegiatan Usaha Industri)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 3.1; 3.2 (assessment standard) and Annex 3.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 24
- Notes: All wood materials and/or its derivate :
  - - - cultivation wood from private forest
    - - imported wood
    - - wood from building demolition/ scrap wood and/or
    - - recycled wood

7. The Wood Depot (TPT-KB)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 3.3 (assessment standard) and Annex 3.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
- 1) For 6 years (Surveillance 36 months)*
  - *Note: Cultivation wood from private forest
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 12
All materials come from:
- - Natural forest and/or
- - Cultivation Forest of State Forest

8. The Wood Depot (TPT-KB)

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 3.3 (assessment standard) and Annex 3.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 36
- Notes: All materials come from Cultivation wood from private forest

9. Exporter

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 3.4 (assessment standard) and Annex 3.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 12
- Notes: All products has been certified S-PHL/S-Legalitas/Forest Product Self Declaration

10. Importer

Standard and Guidance Applied: Annex 3.5 (assessment standard) and Annex 3.6 (guidelines)
Validity (years): 6
Maximum Period of Surveillance (months): 24

VLHH Certification Client List

PHL Certification Client List