FSC® CoC Certification

Obtaining FSC® Chain of Custody certificate For many companies in the wood, furniture, and paper sectors, CoC is a key step towards business development and entering demanding international markets. However, the issuer is just as important as the certificate itself.

There's no room for randomness in the FSC® system – every certification body must be accredited to conduct certification. In practice, this means that all entities operating on the market meet specific requirements.

However, the difference appears at another level – the organizational structure, scope of responsibility and the way the unit functions.

What is FSC® accreditation?

Accreditation is formal, independent confirmation that a given certification body is competent to conduct audits and issue certificates in accordance with international standards.

In the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) system:

• the organization develops standards and certification principles,
• independent certification bodies conduct audits and issue certificates,
• They are supervised by Assurance Services International (ASI).

This means that each FSC® certification body operates based on common, global requirements and is subject to auditing.

The role of ASI – continuous supervision, not one-time verification

FSC® accreditation is not a one-time "approval." Assurance Services International provides:

• office and field audits,
• assessment of auditors' competences,
• verification of compliance with FSC® procedures,
• regular inspections (at least once a year).

This means that each certification body must maintain a high level of quality and compliance throughout its operations.

Where does the real difference between units appear?

Since every entity must be accredited, the natural question is: what makes them different?

In the Polish market, the key difference is whether the entity operates as a local entity with its own accreditation or as part of an international structure.

Quality Austria Polska stands out because:

• is the only certification body registered in Poland with its own FSC® CoC accreditation,
• has accreditation granted directly by ASI (No. ASI-ACC-108, 30/09/2024),
• operates as an independent entity responsible for the entire certification process.

There are also other FSC® certification bodies on the market – however, these are foreign organizations operating in Poland through their own structures.

Why does this matter to customers?

From the perspective of a company applying for FSC® CoC certification, all units meet the system requirements. However, their operation may impact the comfort and efficiency of collaboration.

In practice, this means that choosing an entity such as Quality Austria-Polska gives you:

1. Direct responsibility for the certification process

Quality Austria-Poland, as an accredited entity, operates independently – without any intermediate structures or organizational dependencies.

2. Local support and market knowledge

The team understands the realities of Polish companies and the specific nature of the woodworking industry.

3. Consistency and transparency of the process

The certification process is carried out within a single organization – from initial contact to issuing the certificate.

4. International credibility

ASI accreditation guarantees compliance with global FSC® standards and certificate recognition in foreign markets.

Summary

In the FSC® system, accreditation is not an advantage – it is a necessary condition.

The real difference between certification bodies appears at the level of:

• organizational structure,
• method of operation,
• responsibility for the certification process.

Thanks to its own accreditation granted by Assurance Services International, Quality Austria-Polska operates as an independent Polish FSC® CoC certification body – combining international standards with local support.

For companies, this means one thing: a reliable certification process based on competence, transparency and real accountability.

If you want to learn more about how to prepare your company for FSC® certification, contact us – we'd be happy to help!

More information:

Certification: FSC® CoC

FSC® certification - what is it?

FSC® CoC Certification in 6 Steps. E-book

Which certification standard for the wood industry should you choose?

Training: MiniMax for PEFC – how to document activities to meet the standard's requirements? New!