Final chance to have your say on FSC’s revised Chain of Custody standards!
Since mid-2023, FSC has been in the process of updating and streamlining the Chain of Custody (CoC) requirements and the corresponding accreditation standard for certification bodies which include:
FSC-STD-40-004 Chain of Custody Certification
FSC-STD-40-007 Sourcing reclaimed material for use in FSC Product Groups or FSC Certified Projects
FSC-STD-40-003 Chain of Custody Certification of Multiple Sites
FSC-PRO-40-003 Development of National Group Chain of Custody Eligibility Criteria
FSC-STD-20-011 Chain of Custody Evaluations
In late 2024, the first public consultation was held on the ‘Conceptual Phase Report’, which outlined the proposed direction of the CoC revision. In late 2025, the second public consultation was held, seeking feedback on the first draft (D1-0) of the revised CoC standards.
The third (and final) public consultation is open from 15 May 2026 to 15 June 2026. We are seeking feedback on the second draft of the revised CoC standards (i.e. FSC-STD-40-004 V4-0 D2-0 and FSC-STD-20-011 V4-4 D2-0).
Subject to the feedback received from this consultation, FSC is aiming to publish the final revised CoC standards on 1 January 2027, with an effective date of 1 July 2027 and an 18-month transitional period. This is therefore the last opportunity to share your views and shape the future of the CoC standards.
How to participate
You can participate on the FSC Consultation Platform.
Please see the two-pager for guidance on how to participate in the consultation and provide your feedback.
To access supporting materials related to the consultation (including the two drafts, the consultation questions, the reports from the first and second consultation, CLR Risk Matrix), see the newly developed CoC Hub (coc.fsc.org).
For more background information about the revision process, please visit the process page and the revision page on the FSC Connect webpage.
Supporting webinars
- On Tuesday 19 May 15:00 - 16:30 BST, FSC International will present on the key proposed changes in Draft 2 of the revised CoC standards. Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom. This session will be recorded and subsequently uploaded to FSC International's YouTube channel.
- On Tuesday 2 June 08:00 – 09:30 BST, FSC International will conduct a Q&A session to answer questions submitted in advance about Draft 2 of the revised CoC Standards. Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom. This session will be recorded and subsequently uploaded to FSC International's YouTube channel.
Stakeholders can submit their questions via this Microsoft form from 15 May until 4pm Thursday 28 May 2026: Questions for Q&A on Draft 2 of revised FSC Chain of Custody Standards – Fill out form
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please contact chainofcustody@fsc.org.