Steps towards FM certification

To become holders of FSC FM certification, forest management companies must comply with the requirements of one or more applicable FM standards defined by the FSC. Once their forest management processes are adjusted, the forest management companies are evaluated by the independent certification body to determine compliance with applicable standards.

Before gaining the FSC certificate, a company must also sign a Policy for Assocation with FSC.

DOWNLOAD THE RELEVANT STANDARD(S)

FSC forest management (FSC FM) standards make the core of forest management certification and help ensuring that FSC-certified forests are managed considering environmental, social and economical factors for all, forever. They are specially adapted for each country.

All official FSC FM standards for the countries of the Adria-Balkan Region are available in English and a corresponding local language too.

Note: FSC FM certification is currently possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

See the FSC FM standards

IF NECESSARY, CONTACT A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT

To contribute to the integrity and quality of the system, FSC Adria-Balkan Region promotes certification consultancy services offered by qualified consultants. Trained consultants can, if necessary, help you prepare for the audit.

See the list of trained consultants

CHOOSE AN ACCREDITED CERTIFICATION BODY AND SUBMIT A CERTIFICATION APPLICATION

Certification body will ask you to provide some basic information about your company's forest management system and the scope of the FSC certification in order to compile a plan and an estimate of the costs associated with the audit activities.

Below you will find a list of accredited certification bodies operating in the Adria-Balkan Region. Look for the certification bodies with "(FM, CoC)" indication for forest management certification.

See the list of certification bodies

COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD

A company must prepare itself for the inspection visit of the certification body. It must implement an FSC system with procedures that comply with the requirements set out in the standard used. (Depending on the structure of the organisation and production processes, it may be necessary or useful to refer to additional standards: FSC-STD-30-005 V2-0 FM Groups Standard, FSC-STD-01-003 V1-0 SLIMF Eligibility Criteria)

You can find additional standards by clicking on the link "Document Center".

SUPPORT AN ON-SITE AUDIT BY YOUR CHOSEN CERTIFICATION BODY

Forest management (FM) companies wishing to become certified must undergo an audit. An audit report is then produced, based on which the certification body makes a decision. Furthermore, certified FM companies must undergo an annual supervisory audits and, at the end of the five-year period, an audit to renew the certificate.

GAIN CERTIFICATION APPROVAL

Following a positive certification decision, a company receives an FSC certificate and unique FSC certificate and license codes. From this point it is possible to sell FSC-certified forest materials and products and use FSC trademarks to promote FM company's efforts towards responsible forest management with their clients and stakeholders.