Annual Administration Fee (AAF) Update

Annual Administration Fee (AAF) Update *Please note this applies to all FSC Certificate Holders (CHs).

CONTENT

Abbreviations New AAF Policy New AAF Process 1. Introduction to new AAF Process (Self-Declaration) 2. Responsibilities for the Certificate Holder and BM TRADA 3. Process flow 4. Sample Self-Declaration Form Useful Documents

ABBREVIATIONS Annual Administration Fee

AAF

Certification Body

CB

Certificate Holder

CH

Chain of Custody

CoC

Forest Products Turnover

FPT

BM TRADA

BMT

New AAF Policy

FSC-POL-20-005 V3-4 FSC has published an updated version of the AAF Policy – FSC-POL-20-005 V3-4 Annual Administration Fee (AAF) Policy. The new policy will be effective from 1 January 2024 and a summary of the changes are detailed below: • The policy has been updated to reflect an inflation adjustment of 8.7% • Table 2, detailed in Annex 2, has been updated to reflect the increase • The minimum AAF has also increased from $83 to $91.

The new policy can be accessed at the end of this presentation or on the FSC website: https://connect.fsc.org/documentcentre/documents/resource/221

Introduction to new AAF process Self-Declaration

Last year we made you aware of the updated FSC Annual Administration Fee and Frequently Asked Questions.

As part of the policy revision, there is a requirement that the certification body must assess the overall plausibility of the FPT. In addition, we are also required to: 1.

2.

Determine the exact FPT for each individual site(s) included in the scope of certification Calculate the AAF for single and multi-site processors and traders based on the aggregated FPT of the site(s) included in the scope of certification

To support these changes, we will be issuing an AAF Self-Declaration annually.

RESPONSIBILITIES CH RESPONSIBILITIES •

A copy of the self-declaration form is attached to this email and will be issued once per annum.

•

All CH’s must complete and submit this self-declaration form each year by the specified deadline •

•

For the 2023 AAF please return the self-declaration form by 15th December 2023 to opsinfo@bmtrada.com

Please return the self-declaration form to BM TRADA for review.

BM TRADA RESPONSIBILITIES •

Once the self-declaration has been returned, BM TRADA will review and update the FSC database by the 31st of December.

•

Any queries regarding the data will be discussed with the CH

•

The completed Self-Declaration will be issued to the auditor and will be assessed further during their annual audit.

Self-Declaration Form

Please state the currency used for the figures quoted below

Please confirm the Total Revenue for the organisation

Please confirm the total FPT for each site covered by the certification

Please complete all relevant fields to confirm who has completed the self declaration

Summary of Self-Declaration Process CB issues self-declaration form to CH

CB submits a self-declaration form to BM TRADA by the specified deadline BM TRADA review and update the FSC database by the 31st of December.

An Email will be sent directly to the primary contact* at the CH

Any queries regarding the self-declaration will be discussed with the CH.

The completed Self-Declaration will be issued to the auditor and will be assessed further during the CH’s annual audit.

Please note: - * It is the CH's responsibility to inform BM TRADA of any change to the primary contact details - ** From 2024 Automated weekly reminders will be issued to CH’s until the self-declaration is returned For the 2023 AAF please return the self-declaration form by 15th December 2023 to opsinfo@bmtrada.com