Chain of Custody

Chain of Custody provides the link between the certified forest and the claim about the forest on the final product.

It is the path taken by raw materials, processed materials and products, from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) requires manufacturers to obtain Chain of Custody (CoC) certification if they wish to make claims about the certified wood or fibre in their products and product lines.

Tips for small companies

A policy from the FSC allows small businesses to organise themselves in a cost-effective way and to share the administrative burden of reporting and liaising with an approved certification body.

Group Chain of Custody is particularly designed for groups of small enterprises who already have a legal organisation or the support of an external support organisation such as trade associations and co-operatives.

Eligible small businesses would be those employing fewer than 15 people, or fewer than 25 where turnover is less than UK£700,000 (or one million USD). More information

FSC chain of custody certification enables manufacturers to:

make on claims on products and use the FSC trademarks to promote them;

provide information to downstream processors as the basis for subsequent claims relating to certified content;

control the sourcing of their raw materials; and

demonstrate to their customers, whether business, government or end consumer, that they operate responsible sourcing policies.

Chain of Custody and certification provide important insurance for all parties against controversial timbers being traded.

Percentage labelling
Percentage based labelling allow recognition for wood based products that carry less that 100% certified content.

If you wish to know more about the rules for percentage labelling contact either the FSC directly, or a certifier.

Critical Control Points
The first step for an organisation which wants to implement Chain of Custody certification is to identify all Critical Control Points (CCPs).
CCPs are the points in the process where there is the possibility of mixing of certified and uncertified materials. At each identified point the certified materials are verified and their use is monitored and controlled. In most cases, the CCPs would include the following:

Purchase of raw materials

Good inputs

Production control

Finished goods and storage

Sales

Mixing of certified and uncertified materials can be prevented at CCPs is through a combination of product confirmation and identification, segregation and appropriate documentation, together with sufficient training.

The guidelines of Chain of Custody certification varies with different certifiers, and so reference should be made to relevant certification bodies.

Nevertheless, the aims of Chain of Custody certification are to provide evidence that the certified product originates from certified, well-managed forests, and verifies that these products are not mixed with products from uncertified forests at any point of the supply chain, except under strict controls when percentage labelling is being used.