A company verification program is a process to implement an annual verification audit process to confirm the authenticity of evidence that wood is not harvested from areas that are high risk. The company can develop the program or authorize another organization to do it. The company verification program must be audited by a an FSC accredited Certification Body for any wood to be considered to be Controlled.
The company verification program is needed in high-risk areas to demonstrate that the company is making its best efforts to avoid high-risk wood sources. This means that not every high-risk source must be verified but that audits of a sample of high-risk suppliers is completed to confirm authenticity of documentation and other evidence required for a company verification program.
Below outlines what is the necessary documentary evidence for a supplier when a district of origin is considered high risk for a of the Controlled Wood risk categories (see Annex 3, of the Company Evaluation of Controlled Wood Standard FSC STD 40 005 for examples of potential means of verification):
- Illegally harvested wood:
- Evidence of legal authority of harvest.
- Evidence of compliance with applicable management planning requirements
- Documentation showing the legal restrictions on harvests.
- Evidence demonstrating timber is harvested where designated and harvesting rates are within legal limits.
- Evidence that timber is legally purchased, royalties have been paid and timber transported legally.
- Evidence of compliance with CITES requirements.
Wood harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights:
Wood harvested in forests in which high conservation values are threatened by management activities:
- Evidence that forest management activities in the forest management unit do not threaten High Conservation Values through the following:
- Records of an assessment on the threat to HCVs.
- Evidence of consultation with stakeholders.
- A listing of high conservation values in the forest management unit and evidence that demonstrates these values are not threatened in the forest management unit.
Wood harvested from areas converted from forests and other wooded ecosystems to plantations or non-forest use:
- Evidence that that natural, semi-natural forests and other wooded ecosystems are not being converted to plantations or non-forest use. Except when conversion:
- Entails a limited portion of the management unit.
- Does not occur in a high conservation value forest.
- Will enable clear environmental and social benefits.
Wood from forest management units in which genetically modified trees are planted:
- Evidence that no genetically modified trees are present in the forest management unit.