Newsroom

Technical Updates

Tuesday, 20 June 2006
FSC Pesticide Policy: Final Decision on the FSC International Board of Directors

Following the recommendation report submitted by FSC Executive Director Heiko Liedeker to the FSC International Board of Directors on April 28, 2006, for a decision on actions to be taken to address concerns raised regarding the FSC Pesticides Policy, the FSC Board of Directors has taken into account the issues raised and has made the following decisions:

Complaint and disputes regarding the approved FSC Pesticides Policy

  • The FSC Pesticides Policy (FSC-POL-30-001, December 2005) including its associated documents is maintained unchanged.
  • In order to address concerns and informal disputes that have been raised, complainants, including those from the USA, Australia and New Zealand, may within the next two months (until July 31, 2006) provide substantive information to the FSC Executive Director that the FSC Pesticides Policy has serious failings and requires substantial revision.
  • Any substantive information provided shall be reviewed (from August 1 - September 31, 2006) by a small expert group, including PAN-UK and other experts, who will advise FSC on any necessary further actions on the Pesticides Policy and its associated documents.

Review of the FSC Pesticides Policy Guidance Document• The review, consultation and finalization of the Guidance Document 2, including the thresholds and indicators, will proceed until June 30, 2007, but shall now include a broader consultation and technical review to ensure that all stakeholder groups have the opportunity to provide their input.
• This review will first ensure that the documented process for submitting and processing derogations is streamlined.

Deadline for submission of derogation applications• The deadline for submitting derogation applications with complete application information for the 35 newly added pesticides is extended until December 31, 2006, for ONLY those certificate holders who at the time of the endorsement of the FSC Pesticides Policy (December 11, 2005), had a valid FSC certificate and were using the pesticides concerned.

The FSC International Center and the FSC Pesticides Committee shall evaluate and make a final decision on all the submitted derogation applications for these certificate holders by June 30, 2007, on the basis of FSC’s approved procedures and requirements.