BCK Statement on Termination of FSC^® Partnership with GFA & Follow‑Up Arrangements for Certificate Holders

Recently, FSC^® customers of Beijing Cotecna Kaixin Certification Co., Ltd. ("BCK")  have received notification letters issued by German company GFA Certification GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "GFA"). Upon hearing this news, many long-time clients immediately contacted us – with questions, uncertainties, or concerns. We fully understand every concern. As a team that has been at the forefront of China's FSC^® certification services for thirteen years, we believe it is both necessary and our responsibility to provide all our customers and friends who care about Tainaikexin with an honest and transparent explanation.

I. Termination of Cooperation

• Pursuant to the strategic decision made by the GFA management team, GFA will cease providing FSC^® CoC certification services in China by the end of 2026; all FSC^® CoC certification contracts between GFA and its clients will expire on December 31, 2026, and the certificates will be revoked as of that date.
• The cooperation between BCK and GFA in FSC^® CoC certification services will expire on December 15, 2026. Prior to this date, the parties have agreed that BCK will continue to strictly fulfill its supervision and audit obligations, complete your company's supervision audit and all subsequent related certification activities as scheduled, and ensure that your company's certification status remains unaffected by the termination of the aforementioned cooperation.
• As of today, GFA will no longer accept new initial or renewal certification applications for FSC^® CoC in the China region.

II. Currently, please be aware of the following facts.

1. Your FSC^® certificate remains valid until December 31,2026, and is not affected by the termination of this partnership;

2. Until December 15, 2026, BCK will continue to fulfill all its audit obligations; for all scheduled audit and supervision activities, the BCK team will carry them out with the same dedication and high standard of quality and efficiency as always – without any compromise on service quality.

3. Cotecna Group, the parent company of BCK obtained FSC^® CoC certification from ASI on May 12, 2025; furthermore, the FSC^® CoC certification body under Cotecna Group possesses the requisite accreditation and capabilities to comprehensively provide FSC^® CoC certification services in China.

4. Given that this certificate transfer is attributable to the strategic adjustment and withdrawal of GFA from the Chinese market, according to FSC^® rules, the transfer of a certificate resulting from the withdrawal of a certification body from the market constitutes a "voluntary transfer." For voluntary certificate transfers: 1) no transfer audit is required; 2) the restriction that a certificate may only be transferred once per certification cycle does not apply.

III. BCK will arrange everything properly for you.

BCK was established in 2002 and has been deeply rooted in the Chinese certification market for 24 years. Throughout these 24 years, integrity and our commitment to our customers have always been the foundation of our existence. This statement serves as our account of the past; as for the future, we will likewise be present.

Over the coming weeks, we will communicate detailed solutions to all existing FSC^® customers to ensure a seamless transition of certification certificates and maintain business continuity to the greatest extent possible. Until then, please do not worry – we recommend that you carefully consider all available options before making the choice that best serves your business.

Once all technical arrangements are completed, BCK will promptly leverage the Group's expertise to embark on a new chapter, providing FSC^® CoC certification services to Chinese clients while delivering an enhanced service experience.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your BCK project representative at any time, or get in touch with us through the following channels:

• Tel: +86 10-6553 6199 / +86 137 0132 0831 / +86 135 8169 5947
• Email: bck-fsc@cotecna.com.cn

Thank you for all your trust and partnership over the past 13 years!

Beijing Cotecna Kaixin Certification Co., Ltd. ("BCK")

August 22, 2026

About Cotecna Kaixin Certification

Beijing Cotecna Kaixin Certification Co., Ltd. ("BCK") is a third-party certification body accredited by CNAS and ANAB. Focusing on providing certification services covering quality and safety, agri-food products, intellectual property, information security, energy, and sustainability, we have served over 20,000 clients, and remains committed to delivering premium and efficient service to clients, contributing to economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.