FSC itself does not issue certificates; the process is carried out by independent organisations, so called certification bodies. Only FSC accredited certification bodies are authorized to issue FSC certificates.
- Contact one or several certification bodies. They will give you information about the requirements for FSC certification.
- You sign an agreement with the certification body.
- A certification audit takes place to assess your company’s qualifications for certification.
- Based on the audit report, the certification body makes the certification decision.
- If the certification decision is positive you receive a FSC certificate. If not, you can go for further audits after you have implemented the changes suggested in the certification report.
These steps are the same independent on whether you want to become forest management or chain of custody certified.