The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has terminated the licence of Asia Plywood, a supplier of plywood products to Wickes and B&Q.
FSC’s action, confirmed yesterday in a statement, follows investigations by certifier Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) which found issues with Asia Plywood’s timber sourcing.
SCS said Asia Plywood, Peninsular Malaysia’s largest plywood manufacturer, had failed to provide adequate evidence of the certified origin of the wood used in FSC Mixed products. Asia Plywood had already lost its FSC Controlled Wood endorsement in February 2011.
“As such SCS terminated their certificate with immediate effect and called upon them to take all actions necessary to ensure that none of the company’s products had any reference to the Forest Stewardship Council,” said FSC International.
SCS requested that Asia Plywood contact all its buyers to inform them that the products bought between February 25-December 27, 2011 were not in compliance with FSC rules and should therefore not be represented as such.
Furthermore, SCS requested that Asia Plywood follow up with its customers to remove all references to FSC from their stock purchased from the company and sell the wood only as uncertified.
“Customers who purchased and sold Asia Plywood products, including B&Q and Wickes, did so in good faith as Asia Plywood did not inform them of the change in scope of the certificate, as was required by their certification contract,” said FSC International.
FSC said the case was a “rare misuse” of the FSC system by one if its certificate holders.
“As a result FSC is working with certification bodies and companies who buy FSC products, including B&Q and Wickes, to ensure that future supplies of FSC-certified products meet the stringent environmental and ethical requirements that apply to the 150 million ha of FSC-certified forests around the world.”
