In April 2023, FSC International published an updated version (V2-1) of the International Generic Indicators (IGIs), which form the starting point for the development of Forest Stewardship Standards. This version of the IGIs will come into effect on 1 July 2023.
The new version incorporates changes resulting from motions approved at the FSC General Assembly in 2022, relating to conversion and to the application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the case of traditional peoples; for more information, see the FSC International news story. It also operationalises the FSC Pesticides Policy through changes to IGIs under Criterion 10.7 and the addition of Annex J: International Generic Indicators for the use and risk management of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).
The development of these IGIs was mandated by the Pesticides Policy (clauses 4.8 and 4.9), and incorporating them into Forest Stewardship Standards (clauses 4.10 and 4.11) will be the last stage in implementing the Policy.
On the basis of environmental and social risk assessment, standard developers will have to consider each restricted or highly restricted HHP currently used or likely to be used in the country, and determine whether or not its use is permissible (FSC Pesticides Policy Annex 4, clauses 1 and 2). For each HHP permitted for use, standard developers must develop indicators and locally relevant thresholds, using the IGIs as a starting point (Annex 4, clauses 3 and 4).
The FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for the UK is familiar to most forest managers as the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, or UKWAS. As UKWAS 5 has already been submitted for approval before the HHP IGIs come into effect, the identification of specific HHPs which may be used in the UK, and any requirements and thresholds for their use and risk management, will be deferred until the development of UKWAS 6. In the meantime, HHPs may be used in FSC-certified forests as long as the requirements of the Pesticides Policy are met.
Clause 4.12.5 of the Policy requires certificate holders to conform with the applicable international and national indicators and thresholds for the use of HHPs. As we are still in a transitional stage until UK indicators and thresholds have been developed, certificate holders are advised to incorporate the HHP indicators in their environmental and social risk assessments as per interpretation INT-POL-30-001_07.
With the Pesticides Policy now well-established in practice, we have taken the opportunity to refresh our dedicated web page to give a more general overview. Forest managers who need more technical support should contact their group scheme manager or certification body in the first instance. Any other stakeholders who want more information can contact the FSC UK team.