FSC-related pages and transaction records should connect the same product, supply relationship, and claim scope. This reference covers chain of custody (CoC) records for forest-based materials only; it does not treat FSC evidence as customs clearance, marketplace approval, or proof of compliance with unrelated rules.
1. Define the product, parties, and claim scope
Start with a product register covering the product name, model or SKU, packaging components, forest-based materials, supplier, and transaction direction. Identify who purchases, processes, sells, or makes an FSC claim. These roles may have different certificate scopes or trademark-use arrangements.
FSC describes CoC as a way to track forest-based material from source through production and distribution. Whether an organisation needs CoC depends on its actual activities, products, and claims, and must be assessed against the relevant certificate scope. A supplier document does not automatically cover every product, entity, or transaction.
2. Check the packaging label fields
Keep the label artwork and version for each packaging configuration. Check the product description, FSC claim wording, label or claim category, certificate or licence references where applicable, product scope, and the relevant approval or review record. Do not add FSC marks, registration symbols, or certification conclusions without the applicable FSC requirements and permission.
Descriptions, material scope, and claim wording on the label should trace back to the product register and supply-chain records. Recheck the label when packaging, materials, suppliers, selling entities, or claim wording changes; do not carry forward an old version without review.
3. Organise supplier and chain-of-custody records
Create an evidence index by supplier and product. Depending on the transaction, it may include the supplier’s legal details, certificate or licence identifiers, certificate scope, product category, purchase order, invoice, delivery note, and other transaction records. Link each record to the relevant SKU, quantity, or batch field when the business record contains one, and retain the original file and version.
Check three relationships: whether the supplier entity matches the document; whether the document scope covers the product and activity; and whether product descriptions, quantities, and dates in transaction documents can be reconciled with the label version and purchase records. Record missing items as evidence gaps rather than substituting a generic or outdated certificate.
4. Keep FSC claims within their evidence boundary
An FSC claim on an invoice, order confirmation, or delivery document should match the organisation’s permission, certificate scope, and actual product. Internal notes may list fields for review, but customer-facing copy should distinguish “uses forest-based material,” “supplier holds a certificate,” and an authorised product claim instead of presenting them as the same conclusion.
An FSC-related claim does not establish compliance with every market rule, marketplace requirement, or customer policy. If the packaging also carries recycling, recycled-content, carbon, or other environmental claims, prepare separate evidence and wording boundaries for each claim.
5. Manual review before release
Read the final label, product page, and transaction records together: does the product and SKU match; is the claim scope clear; do the parties and supplier align; does the document scope cover the stated activity; can the packaging, invoice, delivery note, and evidence index be traced to one another; and does the English version express the same scope?
Save the review date, document versions, identified gaps, and disposition. FSC CoC and trademark requirements may change, so consult the current FSC documents and the applicable certification-body or licence-management requirements before use. This reference was prepared by 绿色方舟（深圳）认证有限公司 and is not a substitute for FSC standards, a certification-body audit, or a contract-specific assessment.
Sources
Forest Stewardship Council: Chain of Custody Certification; FSC United States: Chain of Custody Standards; FSC: Use of the FSC Trademarks by Certificate Holders.
