FSC certified teak trade verification officially launched

The FSC-certified teak transaction verification will cover all product types. In the first phase, 511 certificate holders from 55 countries, including China, will be required to submit transaction data from January to December 2021. The transaction verification will cover more than 1 million hectares of certified forests and 441 chain of custody certificate holders.

FSC's accreditation body, Accreditation Services International (ASI), will be responsible for collecting and analyzing transaction data submitted by certificate holders in this transaction verification, and will provide preliminary results of the transaction verification data analysis phase in the first quarter of 2023. ASI will then launch a transaction verification investigation for FSC-certified teak supply chains with high-risk signs.

As a highly traded and precious wood species, illegal logging of teak is very serious worldwide, and has been reported many times by environmental organizations and various media. In 2021, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) compliance management department has taken legal action against European companies that deal in teak products.

FSC and ASI have received some inquiries about FSC certified teak products. In order to ensure the integrity of the FSC certified teak supply chain from the threat of illegal logging, FSC has decided to work with ASI to conduct an active and in-depth investigation of the FSC certified teak supply chain worldwide. Through the investigation, FSC will be able to take strong action against any certificate holder that violates FSC certification standards.