FSC Regulatory Module
Taking the guesswork out
of EUDR compliance
FSC’s Regulatory Module supports FSC certificate holders in aligning their practices with Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EUDR) requirements and takes the guesswork out of compliance. The FSC Regulatory Module is a complementary standard to add on to existing FSC certification requirements for forest management, chain of custody, project certification, controlled wood and accreditation.
Due Diligence Requirements
The objective of due diligence for products in the FSC Regulatory Module is to demonstrate that the following conditions are met:
Forest products are deforestation-free;
They have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production;
Forest products are covered by a due diligence statement.
Core elements of the additional due diligence requirements introduced in the module include:
Information collection
Risk assessment
Risk mitigation
How to start using?
STEP 1: Understand the steps and requirements in the Regulatory Module and how they apply to you with the FSC-EUDR Journey
STEP 2: Access the full FSC Regulatory Module here
Useful resources to start using the FSC Regulatory Module:
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Commonly asked questions
Certificate holders will need to request for a scope extension from their certification bodies to include the FSC Regulatory Module and at minimum a desk-based audit will need to be done either during the next surveillance audit or as agreed with the certification body from 1 July 2024 (so not only from 1 January 2025).
This standard is for voluntary use by organizations applying for or holding FSC certification to extend their certification scope to align with the EUDR. It can be used in addition to all existing certification types and includes accreditation requirements for certification bodies. The FSC Regulatory Module standard focuses on wood, wood-based products and rubber. It can be applied by organizations within and outside the European Union (EU), which in case the latter applies, organizations are exempted to conform with some of the requirements (see Annex 1 of the FS C Regulatory Module).
Currently, the FSC Regulatory Module only addresses the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). As further regulatory developments progress, FSC could utilize the module for further regulatory alignments.
No, this is not a standalone set of requirements but rather an add-on module. Users must also either already be certified with FSC or selecting to include the FSC Regulatory Module as part of their certification process.
No, only competent authorities have the authority to verify compliance with the EUDR. FSC has included additional requirements that can support demonstrating this compliance by aligning FSC requirements with EUDR but the decision still rests solely on the competent authority. Certification bodies will check for conformity with FSC requirements, which can benefit users by having another third-party verifying conformity.
More questions?