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Resolute gets six-month extension for suspended FSC certificate

The Forest Stewardship Council Canada has requested a six-month extension to be granted by the certification body Rainforest Alliance for a suspended forest certificate held by Resolute Forests Products in Lac St-Jean, Quebec. The deadline for…

The Forest Stewardship Council Canada has requested a six-month extension to be granted by the certification body Rainforest Alliance for a suspended forest certificate held by Resolute Forests Products in Lac St-Jean, Quebec. The deadline for the suspension of this certificate is extended from January 2 to July 2, 2015.

This six-month extension provides the Government of Quebec with an opportunity to address a land dispute in the area which was a factor in the suspension of Resolute’s FSC certificate.

“FSC is confident in Resolute Forest Products’ ability to reinstate the validity of the FSC certificate in the Saguenay Lac St-Jean region, while adhering entirely to the FSC standards. The vitality of the forestry sector of this region depends on it,” said François Dufresne, president of FSC Canada. 

FSC also recognized the genuine will of all parties to arrive at a speedy resolution of the issues.

“We are ready to contribute to solutions that will maintain sustainable employment based on responsible management of the forests of Quebec,” added Dufresne.

Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer of Resolute, said in a company statement: “I am quite surprised by FSC Canada’s last-minute intervention, which to my knowledge is unprecedented. I note that FSC Canada has indicated that it has identified possible solutions to avoid ‘unfairly penalizing’ Resolute, according to its president, François Dufresne, quoted in the December 21, 2014, edition of the newspaper Le Progrès Dimanche. We are eager to meet with Mr. Dufresne and discuss solutions for reinstating our FSC certificates.”

“We look forward to clear proposals from FSC Canada for resolving the two issues that are responsible for the temporary suspension of the two certificates, while maintaining the viability of our company and the communities in which we operate,” Garneau continued.

The pulp and paper manufacturer continues to be one of the largest holders of FSC sustainable forest management certificates in Canada and recently successfully renewed its certificates in the Mauricie, Abitibi and North Shore regions of Quebec.