FSC has blocked three Peruvian certificate holders and their FSC certification has been suspended because they were unable to verify the origin of wood they sold and purchased from the Amazon. As a result, they can no longer claim FSC certification on their products, or use the FSC trademark label. They will also not be able to seek recertification until FSC lifts their blockage.
This decision is based on the outcomes of the Amazon Timber investigation that FSC and Assurance Services International (ASI) started in 2019. This investigation focused on the supply chains of FSC-certified Cumaru, Ipe, and Jatoba timber species from the Amazon rainforests.
The blocked and suspended certificate holders (along with their certificate numbers) are:
- Maderera Rio Yaverija SAC (MADERYJA) (NC-FM/COC-002175)
- Maderera Rio Yaverija SAC (CU-COC-810564)
- Maderera Industrial Isabelita SAC (EMINI) (CU-COC-858403)
Maderera Rio Yaverija SAC (MADERYJA) (NC-FM/COC-002175) and Maderera Rio Yaverija SAC (CU-COC-810564) were also unable to justify the volume mismatches and false claims detected over the course of this investigation.
This investigation has also resulted in the termination of the FSC certificates of Nordisk Timber EIRELI (IMA-COC-000547). Hence, they can no longer claim FSC certification on their products. However, FSC has not blocked the company, therefore they may seek recertification with a different certification body.
Brazil and Peru account for more than 80% of certificate holders selling Cumaru, Ipe, and Jatoba species of timber into the global market; hence the investigation focused on these two countries. These three species of wood have a high commercial value and face a risk of overharvesting.
FSC is a global not-for-profit organization that sets the standards for what is a responsibly managed forest, both environmentally and socially.
