BELGIUM –   The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and system integrity following recent discussions about false certification claims.

The organization emphasized that open scrutiny is essential to maintaining FSC’s reputation as the world’s most trusted forest certification system.

FSC stated that volume tracking will be a key topic at its General Assembly later this month, where members will decide on its implementation. With FSC Trace, a blockchain-based traceability platform, the organization aims to close existing gaps in supply chain verification.

The FSC rejected claims from a Preferred by Nature article suggesting widespread false FSC claims, calling the data “outdated” and lacking verified evidence. It highlighted significant progress in recent years, including transaction verification, wood origin testing, and targeted investigations to detect and block false claims.

FSC cited its proactive work with World Forest ID to apply scientific testing for wood origin verification and strengthen supply chain integrity. In the case of Paulownia wood, irregularities found in 2020 led to several suspensions, new traceability rules, and tighter oversight.

Addressing risks in Russia and Belarus, the FSC said it has launched the Eurasia Integrity Workplan (2024) to prevent uncertified Russian timber from entering global markets. The initiative includes transaction verification, isotopic testing, and field investigations across over 800 certificate holders in the region.

“Integrity cannot rely on audits alone,” FSC noted, pointing to new digital systems and real-time data monitoring as essential tools for the future. The organization confirmed that strengthening system integrity is a global priority for 2026, aimed at preventing fraud and protecting certification credibility.