On April,8 the decision of FSC International (Forest Stewardship Council^®) to suspend all Russian FSC trade certificates for an indefinite period of time came into force.

The lack of certificates has sharply limited the entry of Russian companies into international sales markets. Domestic wood industrials regarded this decision as unreasonable, unfriendly, politically motivated and having nothing to do with FSC fundamental principles.

At the same time the management of the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, JSC decided not to abandon the principles of responsible forest management, and intends to continue to conduct its activities in strict accordance with the standards that have proven themselves over many years.

“Regardless of international organizations position we intend to strictly comply with all the environmental standards and fulfill all our social obligations. Nothing changes in this part of our activity", emphasized Dmitry Zyliov, Director General of the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, JSC.

The inspection audit for compliance with FSC requirements conducted at the end of April did not reveal any discrepancies. This means that the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill once again completed the accounting period in accordance with the FSC standards for chain of custody certification and use of the trade marks.

The Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill expressed the hope that in the very near future a National Forest Certification System would be developed in Russia, which would be recognized at the level of bilateral intergovernmental agreements of friendly countries, at the level of the Eurasian Economic Union, the BRICS countries, and other political and economic associations.