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Resolute settles legal dispute with Rainforest Alliance over FSC audit

Resolute Forest Products has reached a settlement in the legal case launched last May against third-party auditor The Rainforest Alliance. The lawsuit concerned draft audit reports for the Black Spruce Dog River Matawin Forests and Caribou…

Resolute Forest Products has reached a settlement in the legal case launched last May against third-party auditor The Rainforest Alliance. The lawsuit concerned draft audit reports for the Black Spruce Dog River Matawin Forests and Caribou Forest operations in Ontario, related to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of these areas.

Under the terms of the agreement, a new corrective action verification audit (CVA) will be conducted by a new independent Rainforest Alliance audit team for the Black Spruce Dog River Matawin Forests, located in northwest Ontario.  The CVA audit will be completed within six months.

The Caribou Forest certificate expired in January, 2015, so it will not undergo a new CVA as part of this agreement. 

The previous draft CVA audit reports related to Black Spruce and Caribou Forests have been sealed by an Ontario court.  Following the upcoming CVA audit for the Black Spruce Dog River Matawin Forests, Rainforest Alliance will disclose a public summary of the report findings, per FSC requirements.