FSC® Chain of Custody (CoC) certification

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that has developed environmental, social and economic criteria for forest management. FSC® standards aim to ensure that raw materials come from responsibly managed forests or other controlled sources and are handled correctly throughout the supply chain.

With FSC® Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, you can certify wood, wood products, paper or printed products whose inputs come from responsibly managed forests or controlled sources. CoC applies to every link that processes or takes ownership of products: sawmills, furniture factories, paper and packaging producers, printers and traders. Under FSC-STD-40-004, companies must control material sources, separate materials or calculate volumes using an appropriate control system, label correctly and keep records for traceability.

Consumers increasingly care about resource conservation, sustainable forestry and ethical sourcing and processing when buying wood and paper products. The FSC® label helps buyers recognise products carrying a valid FSC® claim.

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) requires operators placing in-scope commodities, including wood and rubber, on the EU market or exporting them from the EU to carry out due diligence: origin information with geolocation, and evidence that products are deforestation-free (after 31 December 2020) and legally produced. After postponements, the EUDR applies from 30 December 2026 for large and medium companies and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small companies (except timber products already covered by the EUTR). Vietnamese exporters are typically asked by EU customers to provide this information.

As an addition to FSC® CoC certification, TÜV NORD offers assessment against the FSC® Regulatory Module (addendum FSC-STD-40-004r). During the audit we check whether the company has:

• Collected all relevant EUDR information;
• Carried out a risk assessment;
• Applied risk mitigation measures where needed;
• Met the module's due diligence requirements for products in the certification scope.

This additional module can conveniently be integrated into your regular FSC® audit.

After a successful audit, you receive an FSC® certificate valid for 5 years, with annual surveillance audits to maintain it. Contact TÜV NORD Vietnam at vietnam@tuv-nord.com for a quotation based on your company information.