FSC has reached an important milestone with the approval of the FSC core labour requirements within the Chain of Custody standards. With this new step, the principles of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Core Conventions and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work (1998) are integrated into FSC’s Chain of Custody standards.

In June 2020 we reported on an extension to the transition period for the revised FSC Pesticides Policy. The extended transition period came to an end on 31 December 2020, and all Forest Management certificate holders must now be in compliance with Policy requirements for environmental and social risk assessment (ESRA) when using any chemical pesticides.

Since March 2020 FSC has responded to the health risks and travel restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic by publishing, and updating in line with the developing situation around the world, derogations for FSC certification bodies unable to conduct on-site audits.