FSC Consultation on GMO Definition
Deadline Sunday, September 28, 2025
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) prohibits FSC member companies from using GE trees for commercial purposes, in certified or non-certified areas.
FSC’s prohibition exists because the risks and uncertainties associated with GE trees are too many, and the stakes are too high. The release of genetically engineered trees would threaten forests and forest ecosystems, and impact many local communities and Indigenous peoples.
Participate in the Consultations
Participate in the consultation on the interpretation of genetically modified organism (GMO) definition (INT-STD-01-001_19): We are asking you to write to support the FSC’s response to the question:
“Are trees whose genome has been edited using CRISPR-based technologies falling under the FSC definition of ‘Genetically Modified Organism”?”
The FSC has correctly answered “yes” to this question, confirming that the definition of GMO includes CRISPR-based gene editing technologies.
The FSC’s full answer is:
“Yes, the definition of Genetically Modified Organism covers also organisms in which the genetic material has been altered using modern, CRISPR-based gene editing technologies. The definition’s element of “altered in a way that does not occur naturally” is understood to refer both to the resulting genome change as well as to the process to induce it, hence any genetic engineering technology falls within the scope of the GMO definition
Your participation helps stop the approval of gene-edited trees as non-GMO!
FSC’s answer is correct, and it is important to affirm this answer because some pulp companies and biotechnology researchers are lobbying to change the definition of genetic modification (genetic engineering) so that they can get approval to release gene-edited trees as non-GMO.