Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
We herewith inform you about updates and clarifications of the ISCC System. Please share this information with all relevant members of staff.
1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Cultivation
We would like to take the opportunity to highlight again the options to use GHG emissions values for cultivation (eec):
- Use of disaggregated default values: In this case only the statement “use of disaggregated default value for eec” must be made on the sustainability declaration. No specific value must be provided. Where applicable the total default value can also be used. In this case the statement “use of total default value” must be made on the sustainability declaration
- Use of NUTS2 values: They must be stated in kgCO2eq/dry-ton of product on the sustainability declaration. For further information on the application of NUTS2 values please see the ISCC System Update from 30 June 2017
- Actual calculation of eec: They must be stated in kgCO2eq/dry-ton of product on the sustainability declaration
The EC publishes on its Transparency Platform a list with NUTS2 values (Overview table on regional cultivation emissions), which can be applied.
Any updates by Member States of the NUTS2 values, which have not been included in the reports published before 2015, or the submission of new “NUTS2 equivalent values” for third countries requires recognition by the EC via an implementing act (according to Directive (EU) 2015/1513 amending the RED 2009/28/EC and FQD 2009/30/EC).
As long as updated or new values have not been recognised by the EC via such an implementing act they cannot be applied under the voluntary schemes recognised by the EC.
We herewith point out that for third countries the disaggregated default values can be applied as before.
Please refer to the ISCC System Document 205 “Greenhouse Gas Emissions” and the ISCC System Updates for further information.
2. Transitional Period Red Tractor
The European Commission (EC) has sent a further letter to the voluntary schemes that have been recognized by the Commission regarding the recognition of the Red Tractor scheme that expired on 06 August 2017.
According to the EC, the process of technical assessment of the re-recognition of Red Tractor has not yet been completed. To avoid disruptions in the trade of agricultural commodities, the EC has advised the recognized voluntary schemes to continue accepting evidence from Red Tractor for another three months in addition to the extension granted in an earlier letter from the EC (see ISCC System Update from 5 September 2017). ISCC will follow the recommendation by the Commission.
This means that ISCC certified System Users can continue to accept deliveries from Red Tractor certified economic operators as RED sustainable until 06 February 2018 the latest.
3. Reminder – Downstream Combustion Emissions of Fossil Methanol
As communicated in earlier System Updates (e.g. 11 May, 30 June and 16 August 2017), the EC provided clarification to all voluntary schemes regarding the application of the emission factor for fossil methanol. The EC confirmed that the combustion emissions of fossil methanol must be taken into account for the GHG calculation for the biodiesel production. This applies to all schemes whose recognition by the EC has been extended since August 2016.
The emission factor for fossil methanol from the list of standard values for emission factors (“standard calculation values v.1.0″) published by the EC includes the combustion emissions of the fossil methanol. In the GHG Note (“Note on the conducting and verifying actual emission savings”) the EC highly recommends to apply the standard values for emission factors as provided on the website of the EC. This list is not exhaustive. The EC further states, that in case an emission factor is already covered by the list, any alternative value used must be “flagged” in the GHG calculation and “duly justified”. ISCC System Document 205 “Greenhouse Gas Emissions” contains the emission factor (EF) for methanol (including combustion) of 1.98 kg CO2e/kg. This value equals the value provided in the list of the EC and can be applied.
Based on questions from stakeholders we would like to point out that the JRC Technical Report (Well-to-Tank Report, v.4) states the combustion emissions of methanol as 1.38 kg CO2e/kg (from which the above mentioned value has resulted).
It would be possible that companies use the value for combustion emissions from the JRC Report together with an emission factor for methanol as provided by the methanol supplier.
Please see the ISCC System Update from 16 August 2017 for further information on the application of alternative emission factors to the ones provided in the list of emissions factors by the EC.
4. Waste/ Residue Materials: Sample Audits of Points of Origin
We herewith point out the requirement when to audit a sample of points of origin of waste or processing residue in the framework of certification audits of collecting points.
Points of origin generating more than 10 metric tons per months of a specific waste or residue (or more than 120 metric tons per year based on a rolling average) have to be audited based on a sample. Only points of origin that are individually certified do not have to be included in the sample.
Should traceability of waste and residues from the point of origin to the collecting point be ensured by existing systems operated by governmental authorities (delegated or authorised otherwise), e.g. on a local, regional or national level, ISCC may recognise the equivalence of such systems. This could mean that on-site audits would not be required. Please note that the equivalence of such systems must be assessed and approved by ISCC. For the time being, no such approval has been provided by ISCC.
Please see the ISCC System Document 201-01 “Waste and Residues” for further information.
5. Updated ISCC INNw-Tool
The iNNw-Tool has been updated. The updated version (v.16) is now available in the client section of the ISCC website (on the page “Nabisy”). There you also find further information on the application of the iNNw-Tool.
With the updated version minor bugs have been fixed. We recommend all users of the iNNw-Tool to download v.16 if in the application of v.15 any problems occur.
6. ISCC Trainings – Forthcoming Dates
ISCC Greenhouse Gas Training (1.5 days)
20 – 21 November 2017, Cologne, Germany
ISCC EU and PLUS Basic Training (3 days)
14 – 16 November 2017, Shanghai, China
22 – 24 January 2018, Cologne, Germany
07 – 09 March 2018, Bogotá, Colombia
Click here for further information and registration
Important note for certification bodies and auditors: The participation in the ISCC EU and PLUS Basic Training is a mandatory requirement for all auditors before they can conduct audits under ISCC.
Auditors who have not yet participated in an ISCC Basic Training after July 2016 are required to re-attend an ISCC Basic Training until the end of January 2018 if they want to conduct ISCC Audits in 2018 and thereafter.
If a certification body is conducting audits and certifications that include the verification of actual greenhouse gas calculations, the certification body must ensure that at least one GHG expert has participated in an ISCC Greenhouse Gas Training.