10.07.2026
FSC launched the revision of its Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCI) at the 2025 General Assembly. These documents form the foundation of all FSC Forest Management standards. Following an initial public consultation phase, the process has now entered the drafting stage. FSC members and stakeholders still have many opportunities to contribute, particularly through the newly established Consultative Forums.
The Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCI) provide the reference framework for FSC Forest Management certification. They define the international requirements that serve as the basis for the development of national forest management standards.
FSC has initiated a major revision of this normative framework, with completion expected by 2028. The objective is to make the requirements more coherent, easier to use and more outcome-oriented, while maintaining, and where appropriate strengthening, environmental and social safeguards. The revision covers not only the Principles and Criteria and the International Generic Indicators (IGIs), but also several directives, policies and interpretations that will be integrated into a more coherent normative framework.
To support this process, FSC has launched a dedicated website (PCI Hub), which centralises all information relating to the revision, including the timeline, working documents, consultations, reports, resources and opportunities for participation.
The first phase of the process concluded at the end of 2025 with an international public consultation involving 186 participants from 44 countries. The feedback demonstrated broad support for simplifying the requirements, improving the consistency of the normative framework and strengthening provisions relating to climate, biodiversity and forest resilience, while highlighting the need to ensure that requirements remain applicable, auditable and adaptable to different national contexts.
A new phase: drafting the future PCI
The process has now entered the drafting phase.
The work is led by an international Working Group, composed of representatives from FSC's three chambers (economic, environmental and social), supported by technical experts. This group is responsible for drafting the future texts, reviewing the contributions received and preparing the successive draft versions that will later be released for public consultation.
To support this work, FSC has also established four permanent Consultative Forums, open to members and stakeholders:
These forums are not decision-making bodies, but they play a key role in the process. They provide an opportunity to test proposals developed by the Working Group, identify regional specificities, share practical experience, assess the feasibility of proposed requirements and anticipate potential operational implications. Contributions are consolidated and submitted to the Working Group throughout the drafting process. They will subsequently be
reflected in "What We Heard" reports, ensuring transparency throughout the revision process.
How to get involved?
The Consultative Forums are currently the main opportunity to contribute to the PCI revision before the formal public consultations.
Participants may join one or several forums, receive preparatory documents, take part in the virtual meetings held throughout the process and share their expertise and practical experience. Registration remains open throughout the duration of the revision.
For companies and experts from the Congo Basin, this represents an important opportunity to ensure that the realities of tropical forest management are reflected in the future requirements, so that they remain both ambitious and applicable across different national contexts.
This revision is part of a broader set of FSC initiatives aimed at evolving its normative framework. The recent progress made by the Technical Working Group on Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) provides a concrete example of this work (see related article: add link to the other FSC/IFL article).
Coming next
You can follow past and upcoming events on the PCI Hub.
