The International Board of Directors of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has decided, reluctantly but firmly, to disassociate from the Danzer Group of forest product companies, after in-depth research by an impartial Complaints Panel concluded that the former Danzer subsidiary SIFORCO had been involved in unacceptable activities, as specified in FSC’s Policy for Association, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2011, while it was still part of the Danzer Group. “Disassociation”, the termination of all contractual relationships with a company, is the most severe sanction that FSC can impose.
“Based on the unanimous recommendation of the Complaints Panel, which spent several months analyzing the case, and whose work was also reviewed by a Board Complaints Resolution Committee, the Board of Directors decided that Danzer was in violation of FSC’s Policy for Association,” said Kim Carstensen, Director General of FSC.
“Our continued association with the Danzer Group clearly puts FSC’s credibility and reputation at risk,” he added.
The disassociation results from a formal complaint filed by Greenpeace, that SIFORCO was involved in the violation of human rights of forest communities. The alleged events occurred in 2011 in and around the community of Yalisika in the DRC. The Danzer Group and Greenpeace both agreed on the experts who comprised the Complaints Panel.
