FSC fees for certificate holders about to change
27 November 2008
As demonstrated in several discussions during the FSC General Assembly, it has become a key priority to consolidate the FSC network financially.
Resources are needed to provide all of the supporting functions expected by the system’s users: Extensive and transparent stakeholder communication; strengthening of the control with certification bodies and their performance; and promoting as well as protecting the FSC trademarks, just to mention a few of the obligations of FSC and its National Initiatives around the world.
This is the background for a recent announcement made by FSC that the accreditation fee levels are about to be adjusted. These fees are charged to certification bodies who pass the cost on to each certified operation. They have remained at constant level since they were first introduced in 2002, but will now be increased for most certified companies, reflecting the growing need for resources available for the FSC network.
The new fees
The tables below provide an overview of how fees will change between 2008 and 2009. All certified operations will be charged according to the new fee schedule in 2009.
Chain of Custody (CoC) Accreditation Administration Fee
| Classification of certificate holders by annual turnover (USD) |
Annual accreditation fee (USD) |
| |
2008 |
2009 |
| Class 1: < 200,000 |
10 |
50 |
| Class 2: 200,001 to 1,000,000 |
100 |
200 |
| Class 3: 1,000,001 to 5,000,000 |
200 |
400 |
| Class 4: 5,000,001 to 25,000,000 |
400 |
800 |
| Class 5: 25,000,001 to 100,000,000 |
700 |
1,400 |
| Class 6: > 100,000,001 |
1,000 |
3,500 |
NB: Annual turnover refers to forest products and products containing wood or fibres only.
COC Accreditation Administration Fee for Brokers
| Classification of certificate holders by annual turnover (USD) |
Annual accreditation fee (USD) |
| |
2008 |
2009 |
| Class 1: < 200,000 |
10 |
10 |
| Class 2: 200,001 to 1,000,000 |
75 |
75 |
| Class 3: 1,000,001 to 5,000,000 |
150 |
150 |
| Class 4: 5,000,001 to 25,000,000 |
300 |
300 |
| Class 5: 25,000,001 to 100,000,000 |
500 |
500 |
| Class 6: > 100,000,001 |
750 |
750 |
NB: For certificates issued for brokers prior to January 1, 2005, the fee will be calculated as per the AAF Policy for 2004.
Forest Management (FM) and FM/COC Accreditation Administration Fee
| Categories of Management Intensity |
Per Hectare Rate (USD) |
| |
2008 |
2009 |
| SLIMF |
0,0001 |
0,0001 |
| Conservation of Natural Forests |
0,0001 |
0,0001 |
| Management of NTFP and Services |
0,0005 |
0,0005 |
| Community Forestry |
0,0010 |
0,0010 |
| Tropical Forests |
0,0020 |
0,0020 |
| Boreal Forests |
0,0030 |
0,0030 |
| Temperate Forests |
0,0040 |
0,0040 |
| Plantations |
0,0050 |
0,0100 |
More information about the fee adjustment can be found in the document FSC Accreditation Administration Fee (AAF) Policy 2009.
Further fee system and services reforms
This is the first step of a multi year effort planned to reform the fee system and the services provided by FSC. A new licensing platform is planned to be introduced as a pilot in late 2009 and to current certificate holders in 2010. Details about these new services and systems will be provided to our readers as they become available.
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