ASI Has Suspended Holzforschung Austria from Issuing FSC CoC Accreditation

Accreditation Services International (ASI) has suspended the certification body Holzforschung Austria from issuing FSC chain of custody (CoC) certificates worldwide. The measure came into effect on 21 October 2016.

The suspension will be in place for a maximum of six months and it restricts Holzforschung Austria’s ability to issue new FSC CoC certificates or perform initial certification services globally. However, existing certificates issued by Holzforschung Austria will remain valid and the company can continue to conduct surveillance and re-certification audits for its clients during the period of suspension.

This measure is as a result of the company’s inability to resolve major non-conformities with FSC accreditation standards.

The suspension can be lifted if Holzforschung Austria addresses and closes all major nonconformities during the next six months. Only in the event that Holzforschung Austria is not able to do so, current certificate holders will need to seek another FSC accredited certification body and have their existing certificates transferred.

This action reinforces expectations that standards are continuously audited with the consistency that is expected by FSC and that accreditation body ASI oversees all certification bodies rigorously.
Holzforschung Austria currently has 135 CoC FSC certificates.

read more/source: https://ic.fsc.org/en/news/id/1694

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