The FSC Director General has delivered a positive approval decision for the "FSC Chile Standard for Certification of Native Forests” and the “FSC Chile Standard for Certification of Plantation Forests”. Both standards were approved on 21 May 2010 and will be effective starting from 1 September 2010.
The approval of the two national standards marks a major achievement for FSC Chile and the outcome of years of effort. Based on extensive public consultation and agreed by consensus, the two standards are supported by environmental, social and economic groups in the country. The FSC national standards are based on the international FSC Principles and Criteria but adapt these to national conditions by adding country-specific indicators.
The Certification Bodies are required to inform all of their clients in Chile that they shall be assessed against the revised standard from 1 September 2010.The intervening 3 month period between the approval and implementation of the standards is in place for Certification Bodies and forest managers to adapt their systems and management practices respectively to the new standards.
For further information, please contact Richard Robertson, the FSC Policy Manager in charge of coordinating the development of FSC national standards.