DI-CS-008 - General Rules of Procedure for Chain of Custody Forest Products Certification (FSC/PEFC/SFI)

Oct 3, 2026

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General Rules of Procedure describes BNQ’s procedural requirements for certification programs covering chain of custody (CoC) systems within FSC, PEFC and SFI sustainable forest management frameworks. It explains how CoC control systems track wood from certified forests to product sales, while supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. The document outlines certification process steps toward issuing a certificate, including application, optional preliminary assessment, audits, corrective action requests, decisions, maintenance and recertification, plus rules for modifications, suspensions, withdrawals, complaints and certification decision appeals.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

FOREWORD

DEFINITIONS

CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

1.1. APPLICATION FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION

1.2. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT (OPTIONAL)

1.3. CERTIFICATION AUDIT

1.4. CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUESTS

1.5. CERTIFICATION DECISION

1.6. MAINTENANCE AND RECERTIFICATION AUDIT

1.7. LIGHTENED MAINTENANCE

PROVISIONS IN THE EVENT OF MODIFICATIONS

SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF A CERTIFICATE

TREATMENT OF COMPLAINTS

TREATMENT OF CERTIFICATION DECISION APPEALS

ANNEX A: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE USE THE BNQ CERTIFICATE AND THE CERTIFICATION MARKS

General Rules of Procedure— Chain of Custody of Forest Products FSC Program PEFC Program SFI Program © BNQ, 2026-08-10 Any reproduction or distribution in whole or in part of this document, by any means whatsoever, is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the BNQ. CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD........................................................................................................................... IV DEFINITIONS ......................................................................................................................... VI CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE ........................................................................................ 1 1.1. APPLICATION FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION ........................................................... 1 1.2. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT (OPTIONAL) ..............................................................3 1.3. CERTIFICATION AUDIT .............................................................................................3 1.4. CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUESTS ..........................................................................4 1.5. CERTIFICATION DECISION.......................................................................................4 1.6. MAINTENANCE AND RECERTIFICATION AUDIT......................................................5 1.7. LIGHTENED MAINTENANCE .....................................................................................5 PROVISIONS IN THE EVENT OF MODIFICATIONS ........................................................6 2.1. MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION ................................6 2.2. MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE CLIENT’S LEGAL STATUS OR BUSINESS NAME.................................................................................................6 SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF A CERTIFICATE................................................6 3.1. GENERAL ...................................................................................................................6 3.2. SUSPENSION PROCESS ..........................................................................................6 3.3. WITHDRAWAL PROCESS .........................................................................................7 TREATMENT OF COMPLAINTS.......................................................................................7 4.1. GENERAL ................................................................................................................... 7 4.2. TERMS AND STEPS IN THE TREATMENT OF A COMPLAINT ..................................7 TREATMENT OF CERTIFICATION DECISION APPEALS ...............................................8 5.1. GENERAL ...................................................................................................................8 5.2. TERMS AND STEPS IN THE TREATMENT OF A CERTIFICATION DECISION APPEAL ....................................................................................................8 ANNEX A: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE USE THE BNQ CERTIFICATE AND THE CERTIFICATION MARKS FOREWORD This document gives the BNQ’s general rules of procedure applying to the certification programs for chain of custody (CoC) systems in the framework of the following sustainable forest management (SFM) programs: a) FSC: Forest Stewardship Council (international recognition program for sustainable forestry initiative); b) PEFC: Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (international recognition program of national SFM certification programs); c) SFI: Sustainable Forestry Initiative (US sustainable forestry initiative program) . These certification programs apply to organizations seeking to have their CoC control systems certified for processed material from the forest and for the forest products themselves. Obtaining certification for a CoC control system of forest products according to these standards gives

FAQs

What do the FSC, PEFC and SFI programs cover in the chain of custody certification framework?

They apply to organizations seeking certification of CoC control systems for processed materials from the forest and for forest products themselves, enabling tracking from certified forests to the points where finished products are sold.

What are the main steps in the certification procedure for a CoC control system?

The procedure includes application for initial certification, optional preliminary assessment, certification audit, corrective action requests, certification decision, and maintenance and recertification audits, including a provision for lightened maintenance.

How does the document address certificate suspension, withdrawal, complaints, and certification decision appeals?

It sets general rules for suspension and withdrawal processes and defines terms and steps to treat complaints, as well as terms and steps for handling appeals of certification decisions submitted to BNQ.

Oct 3, 2026

Upload by Mabel