The UK FSC Risk Assessment will replace the existing UK Controlled Wood Risk Assessment and also act as a key document within the FSC EUDR support tools framework, including the voluntary Regulatory Module.
It is envisaged therefore that the Risk Assessment will be used by companies to amend/update their due diligence systems for FSC Controlled Wood, and in support of their EUDR declarations where exporting into the EU and meeting the requirement of the FSC new Regulatory Module once the EUDR regulations come into force.
Timeline
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those certificate holders and stakeholders who participated in the recent public consultation on the first draft of the UK FSC Risk Assessment.
Following analysis of the feedback, the consultants working for FSC are undertaking further soundings from technical experts before finalising the risk assessment. This has led to an anticipated delay in the publication of the risk assessment document until November 2025.
According to the Requirements for Sourcing FSC Controlled Wood Standard (FSC-STD-40-005), Clause 3.2 “The organization shall adapt its DDS to use FSC risk assessments within six (6) months of the date of FSC risk assessment approval by FSC, unless an extension is justified and approved by the certification body”.
Once published, key points relating to the UK FSC Risk Assessment will be included on our website and in our monthly newsletter, Forest Matters.
Some 20 countries are presently creating their FSC Risk Assessment and over the next few years the process will be rolled out across all countries involved in FSC controlled wood. To date one country, Romania, has published its new FSC Risk Assessment. The Risk Assessment document for Romania as well as being available through the FSC Document Centre - Document Centre | FSC Connect - is also presented in a new FSC Risk Hub. The Risk Hub has been designed specifically to present completed Risk Assessment in an easily accessible and useable form for businesses – this can be viewed at FSC Risk Hub.
As new Country risk assessments are produced these will be added to the Risk Hub and Document Centre. Once published businesses purchasing control wood from these countries will be required to update their due diligence systems within six months of publication unless an extension is agreed with their auditing Certification Body.
Full details on FSC Risk Assessment process and associated documentation are available here