Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We herewith inform you about updates and clarifications in the ISCC System. Please share this information with all relevant members of staff.
 

1. Update Nabisy: New Codes & System Maintenance

On 12 July 2018, Nabisy will be shut down from about 9:00 am because of various maintenance aspects and a new update. Changes in the new version refer to the introduction of the additional category“residues from agriculture” and further information provided on the proofs of sustainability created in the Nabisy platform. Additionally, by 15 August 2018 the BLE will publish an updated version of the Biomass Code List which refers to material that can be entered into Nabisy.

The letter from the BLE (“7. Information letter concerning Nabisy”) regarding the program-related changes can be downloaded here on the website of the BLE.
 

2. Update ISCC Documents

ISCC List of Materials

ISCC has updated the ISCC list of materials:

  • Guidance on page one: it is now clarified that a case-by-case assessment is not required if evidence from authorities is available that proves the waste/residue status of a material
  • Table one: “Carinata” was added in the field for “Mustard”
  • Table one: “Waste starch slurry” and respective requirements that must be met were added (according to the adjusted UK positive list)
  • Table two: “Heat/Steam” was added as a product produced in a steam boiler
  • Table two: “Starch slurry” that was certified as a product or co-product (not under the ISCC waste/residue process) was added

The current version of the ISCC list of materials (as of 06 June 2018) is available here in the client section of the ISCC website (login required).

Call for evidence on “Starch slurry (low grade)”:

As the UK authorities have adjusted the wording and the requirements for “waste starch slurry”, ISCC is currently analysing whether the term “Starch slurry (low grade)” should remain on the ISCC list of materials. The classification as a waste or residue by one of the EU Member States is a precondition for the certification of a material under the ISCC EU waste and residue process. ISCC has currently no information that the raw material “Starch slurry (low grade)” will be accepted or classified as a waste or residue in one of the EU Member States in the future. If you have evidence that an EU Member State still classifies or accepts “Starch slurry (low grade)” as a waste or residue, please submit this evidence to ISCC until 01 September 2018. If “Starch slurry (low grade)” will not be accepted by any EU Member State in the future, this material will be deleted from the ISCC list of materials.

Sustainability Template for ISCC PLUS

ISCC has published a template for an ISCC PLUS Sustainability Declaration that can be downloaded here in the client section on the ISCC website (login required). The use of the provided ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS sustainability templates is voluntary for System Users.

System Documents Available in Chinese

The ISCC System Documents “ISCC EU 201 – System Basics” and “ISCC EU 201-01 Waste and Residues” have been translated into Chinese and can now be downloaded here on the ISCC website.
 

3. Cautionary Note on Fake Certificates and Fraudulent Companies

We herewith point out that ISCC has received information about non-certified companies that are using the ISCC certificates of certified companies in order to sell their material as sustainable. In those cases, the company name and address differ from the one stated on the certificate. The company, that is fraudulently trying to sell its material as ISCC certified, claims, that they are selling the material in the name/on behalf of the certified company.

Please note, that it is not possible for a non-certified company to sell ISCC sustainable material. Recipients of ISCC sustainable material are obliged to verify on the ISCC website that the supplier holds a valid ISCC certificate. Please contact ISCC directly in case you are confronted with such a situation in order to further investigate on these cases.
 

4. Smallholder Certification: Clarification Regarding the Correct Sampling Under the Scope of Central Office (CO) and First Gathering Point (FGP)

According to ISCC, a farm or plantation is either defined as a distinct legal entity or as an organisation managing an agricultural operation and having control regarding the compliance with the ISCC requirements. The entire land (agricultural land, pasture, forest, any other land) of the farm or plantation, including any owned, leased or rented land is subject to certification.

Therefore, fields of a group of smallholders can be regarded as one farm/plantation if they are managed centrally (e.g. managed by a smallholder cooperative). The cooperative management will sign the self-declaration. This means that one cooperative can be regarded as one farm if the cooperative is responsible for the agricultural management and control in terms of the compliance with ISCC requirements. The sample size would be the square root of the total number of smallholder cooperatives multiplied by the risk factor.

Example: An FGP receives sustainable palm fresh fruit bunches from nine smallholder cooperatives which have signed the ISCC self-declaration. Each of the nine cooperatives consists of ten smallholders. In this case, three cooperatives would have to be audited (square root of 9 = 3).
 

5. Update on ISCC Privacy Policy

We have updated our Privacy Policy to comply with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that came into force on 25th May 2018. In our revised Privacy Policy, we outline how we collect and use personal data and explain the way we protect it. We have also provided details on how you can exercise the rights associated with your data.

You can read the updated ISCC Privacy Policy here.