This procedure is a key document in the FSC system that defines:
- The process FSC has to implement to develop or revise its policies, standards, and procedures;
- The options for members and stakeholders to actively participate or engage in these processes;
- The requirements for communication and transparency around these processes.
The revised procedure was developed by a Technical Working Group over the last two years and went through three rounds of public stakeholder consultation before it was presented to the FSC Board of Directors for approval in March 2013.
The procedure is based on the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards (2010) and responds to recommendations by the FSC membership expressed in Motion 35:2008 (‘Motion to implement a formal procedure for FSC standard setting that will allow for realistic implementation of standards‘) and Motion 36:2011 (Annual Policy Manual for the FSC System, for use by accredited certifiers, National Initiatives, ASI auditors, both candidate and certified operations, and stakeholders).
FSC will start using this procedure with immediate effect.
FSC is working on a ‘Stakeholder Guide to FSC Normative Documents’, which will be published within the next few weeks.
For further information on FSC's normative framework and open consultations, please click here.
The FSC Procedure 'The Development and Revision of FSC Normative Documents' (FSC-PRO-01-001 (V3-0) EN) can be downloaded here.