Content:

1. ISCC Webinar – System Updates Summary Q3 2024
2. ISCC EU
3. ISCC PLUS
4. ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification – Food and Agriculture
5. Update on Measures for Conducting Audits in Ukraine

The System Update is mandatory for all ISCC system users,
ISCC auditors and cooperating certification bodies.

General Remark

We hereby kindly remind you that it is the responsibility of the system user to maintain updated contact data in the ISCC HUB as described in the ISCC System Document 201:

“ISCC will allow direct access to the ISCC HUB to all legal representatives and first and second contact persons named by the system user either at registration or in later updates. All these persons may change the registration data of the system user in the ISCC HUB. Auditors or employees of a recognised certification body are not allowed to be the contact person for a registered system user.“

1.  ISCC Webinar – System Updates Summary Q3 2024

Date: 1 October 2024, 02:00 – 03:00 pm CEST 

As an additional service for our system users, ISCC auditors and other stakeholders, we established a new webinar series that is designed to provide an overview of all recent changes. Beneficially, participants will have the opportunity to ask specific questions about the presented System Updates.
 
Please note that all ISCC system users, ISCC auditors and cooperating certification bodies are still required to read the System Updates and implement new requirements promptly as some changes and updates are effective immediately or within a narrow timeframe.

2. ISCC EU

ISCC EU Material List

The ISCC EU material list has been updated (Version: 15 July 2024). The revised materials are marked in bold.

3. ISCC PLUS

3.1 ISCC PLUS Self Declaration for Waste & Residues

The ISCC PLUS Self Declaration for Waste and Residues has been updated (1 June 2024, Version 1.2).

Changes include:  

• Adding the definitions of Waste and Residues according to the ISCC System Document 202-5 “Waste and Residues”
• Removal of renewable-energy-derived raw material category from the self-declaration
• Adding the following sentence to the footnote: “Although under ISCC PLUS the waste definition is based on Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC (Article 3) and residue definition is based on Renewable Energy Directive II 2008/98/EU (Article 2), this document is not binding for the signature holder to comply with EU legislation if they are operating outside EU. Signature holder should only be aligned with the definition of waste and residues as provided above.” 

Currently, only the English version is available in the client section (login required).

3.2 ISCC PLUS Self Declaration for Group Members in a Final Product Refinement Set Up 

The ISCC PLUS Self Declaration for Group Members in a Final Product Refinement Set Up has been updated (1 August 2024, Version 1.2) to align with the latest version of the ISCC PLUS System Document v3.4.2.
 
Currently, only the English version is available in the client section (login required). 

3.3 Certification of Ocean-bound Plastic (OBP)

Ocean-bound plastic (OBP) refers to discarded plastic material, in all its forms, found within 50 kilometers of ocean coastlines, with a high likelihood of eventually entering the ocean. In addition to adhering to ISCC PLUS requirements for plastic materials, specific provisions must be met to certify OBP.
 
We have revised these requirements and summarised them in the new ISCC PLUS Guidance Document for Ocean-bound Plastic. The new requirements replace those described in the ISCC PLUS System Document v3.4.2.

Changes involve:

• Inclusion of independent/sub-collectors under the scope Collecting Point
• Inclusion of dependent storage facilities
• The option to claim OBP as post-consumer waste if this was verified during the audit of the Collecting Point and this information is forwarded via the Sustainability Declarations throughout the supply chain

Public Consultation

The ISCC PLUS Guidance Document for Ocean-bound Plastic is open to public consultation until 13 September 2024. Interested parties can download the document and submit their feedback on the ISCC website. After the end of the public consultation, the guidance document may be revised.

Self Declaration for OBP

The ISCC PLUS Self Declaration for OBP is now available in the client section (login required).

4. ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification – Food and Agriculture

We have recently started the development of a Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) module which enables the certification of product carbon footprints for various products and value chains. The ISCC CFC module is applicable as a stand-alone certification or as a supplement to ISCC PLUS.

In this context, we have now developed a new certification approach for the certification of reduced carbon footprint milk in Family Dairy Farms (FDF). Options for certification cover the application of improved practices that reduce the carbon footprint of milk, while maintaining traditional agricultural practices alive and taking care of the environment and rural landscape. The module is a starting point with the goal to develop the ISCC CFC for different processes and products within the food and agriculture sector and can potentially be used by system users to determine GHG emissions within this sector.

ISCC is keen to gather feedback from system users, certification bodies and interested stakeholders. The document ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification – Food and Agriculture is open to public consultation until 13 September 2024. Interested parties can download the document and submit their feedback on the ISCC website.

5. Update on Measures for Conducting Audits in Ukraine

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, we implemented the exceptional measure allowing recertification audits for economic operators in Ukraine to be conducted remotely when onsite audits were not possible.

The ISCC Board has now decided to terminate this exceptional rule with immediate effect. From 23 July 2024*, certification bodies must incorporate this change when planning audits of economic operators in Ukraine. The requirements for conducting audits, as laid down in the ISCC System Documents, apply.

_{*In the System Update from 23 July 2024 that was sent out by email the date was stated as 23 June 2024 when it should have been 23 July 2024.}

If you have any questions, please contact us via our contact form on the ISCC website.