April 2025

Content:

1. ISCC Guidance Documents

2. ISCC EU 

3. ISCC PLUS

4. Clarification: Proof of Sustainability (PoS)

5. ISCC Credit Transfer System

6. ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification

The System Update is mandatory for all ISCC System Users,
ISCC Auditors and cooperating Certification Bodies.

1. ISCC Guidance Documents

1.1 Positive Technical Assessment by the European Commission of the ISCC Guidance Document for the Certification of Co-processing

We are pleased to announce that the European Commission (EC) has given a positive technical assessment of the ISCC Guidance Document for the Certification of Co-processing (v2.0).

The assessment by the EC took place alongside our public consultation. We would like to thank all stakeholders for their valuable feedback submitted during the consultation period. Your input will be considered during the development of a comprehensive Q&A document and for any potential future revisions of the guidance. If such revisions are made, they will require a renewed technical assessment by the EC. Corresponding audit procedures are already in place and available on the ISCC website.

For any questions related to co-processing, please contact us at coprocessing@iscc-system.org.

Guidance Documents

1.2 New and Updated ISCC Guidance Documents

> New ISCC Guidance Document on Non-Conformities and Sanctions of System Users and CBs

The ISCC Guidance Document on Non-Conformities and Sanctions of System Users and CBs (v1.0) provides clarification on the roles and responsibilities of parties involved in the certification process. Additionally, it includes information on sanctions which may be issued to System Users and Certification Bodies and explains the internal procedures to be followed when deciding on the issuance of such sanctions.

> New ISCC EU Mass Balance Guidance Document

The ISCC EU Mass Balance Guidance Document (v1.0) provides detailed clarifications and explanations for existing mass balance rules under the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001. It has been developed by an ISCC multi-stakeholder expert group on mass balance involving members of the ISCC Association and Certification Bodies.

The document includes mass balance rules for the whole supply chain, from feedstocks and intermediates up to the production of fuels to the final user. To enhance understanding, the document includes a range of practical scenarios that illustrate how the mass balance principles can be implemented in real-world settings. The document supplements the ISCC EU System Document 203 “Traceability and Chain of Custody”.

> Updated ISCC Guidance Document “Waste and Residues from Food and Food Processing”

We have updated the ISCC Guidance Document “Waste and Residues from Food and Food Processing” (v1.1). The document now covers additional chapters on soapstock, food waste and sewage sludge. This guidance was created with the support of our multi-stakeholder working group on waste and residues.

Public Consultation

We welcome feedback from System Users, Certification Bodies, and other interested stakeholders. All guidance documents are open to public consultation until 1 June 2025. Interested parties can download the documents and submit their feedback via the ISCC website.

Submit Feedback

2. ISCC EU

2.1 Audit Requirements for Biomass Fuel Supply Chains

The following requirements, previously applicable to economic operators in biofuel and bioliquids supply chains, now also apply to economic operators in biomass fuel supply chains under ISCC EU:

1. Mandatory Surveillance Audits

a. Mandatory surveillance audits are required for supply chain elements handling waste and residues or waste and residue-based products in biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass fuel supply chains.

b. Mandatory surveillance audits must be conducted in a timely manner. The 3-month mandatory surveillance audit must be conducted within the 4th month after the beginning of the validity period. The 6-month mandatory surveillance audit must be conducted within the 7th month after the beginning of the validity period.

c. The requirements for mandatory surveillance audits are defined in the ISCC EU System Document 203 “Traceability and Chain of Custody” (v4.1), chapter 3.4.11.

2. Sample Auditing for Points of Origin

a. A sample of (not individually certified) Points of Origin supplying over 5 metric tons per month (or 60 metric tons per year) of a specific waste or residue must be audited as part of the audit of the Collecting Point or Central Office (for Points of Origin). This applies to biofuel, bioliquid, and biomass fuel supply chains.

b. The requirements for sample auditing for Points of Origin are defined in the ISCC EU System Document 203 “Traceability and Chain of Custody” (v4.1), chapter 3.4.6 and 3.4.7.

3. Verification of Existence of Points of Origin

a. Prior to the audit, the Collecting Point or Central Office (for Points of Origin) must submit a list of all Points of Origin that have signed the self-declaration. The list must include indicative supply volumes, provided either on a monthly or annual basis.

b. The auditor must verify both the existence and supplied volumes of a sample size equal to at least the square root of all Points of Origin that signed the self-declaration within the last 12 months (rounded up).

c. This verification applies to biofuel, bioliquid, and biomass fuel supply chains.

d. The requirements for the existence check of Points of Origin are defined in the ISCC EU System Document 203 “Traceability and Chain of Custody” (v4.1), chapter 3.4.6 and 3.4.7.

The updated requirements apply to all ISCC EU certificates issued on or after 1 July 2025.

2.2 List of Material Eligible for ISCC EU Certification (“ISCC EU Material List”) and ISCC HUB Update

The ISCC EU material list has been updated. The newly added and revised materials are marked in bold.

ISCC material lists

> Aflatoxin-Contaminated Corn

Please note that aflatoxin-contaminated cereals must not be labelled as food waste or feed waste. Currently, recognition is granted only for aflatoxin-contaminated corn – no other crops are recognised under this classification. We will request laboratory test results confirming aflatoxin contamination, as well as the amount of certified corn.

> Soapstock & Soapstock acid oil

New entries for Soapstock and Soapstock acid oil have been introduced, in alignment with the updated ISCC Guidance Document “Waste and Residues from Food and Food Processing” (v1.1; currently under public consultation).

> Residue of FAME end distillation

The previous clarification that Residue of FAME end distillation is a co-product if the parent material is not listed under Annex IX Part B has been corrected.

We herewith clarify that the parent material does not determine whether the Residue of FAME end distillation qualifies as a waste/residue or co-product. The specification of the parent material aims to enhance transparency regarding

the eligibility of the feedstock as advanced, and
the eligibility of the final fuel for double counting.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the auditor to determine the correct raw material category. Additionally, Member States decide independently how to implement double counting, and which materials are eligible for such incentives.

To ensure clarity, the ISCC HUB covers individual entries for all possible parent materials. The parent material shall be indicated in brackets.

Example:

If an entry with the required parent material in brackets is not available, please contact us via the ISCC contact form.

2.3 Updated Proof of Compliance (PoC) Template

Version 1.1 of the ISCC Proof of Compliance (PoC) template is now available in the client section of the ISCC website (login required). The updated template features minor formatting changes and data quality enhancements.

PoC template

3. ISCC PLUS

3.1 Updated Guidance Document and Self-declaration for Ocean-bound Plastic (OBP) Certification

The ISCC PLUS Guidance Document for Ocean-bound Plastic (v1.1) is now available on the ISCC website. The updated document supersedes the previous version (v1.0), as well as requirements previously included in the ISCC PLUS System Document (v3.4.2).

Main changes are the updated definition of Ocean-bound Plastic (OBP) and further guidance on including OBP materials in the Sustainability Declaration.

Thereby, OBP materials must now be indicated by selecting the option “Mixed Plastic Waste (OBP)” in the “Type of Raw Material” section, instead of the “Raw material specification” section.

In addition, the revised self-declaration for OBP is now available in the client section (login required).

The version 1.1 of the ISCC PLUS Guidance Document for Ocean-Bound Plastic and the revised self-declaration for OBP are effective 29 April 2025.

Guidance Documents

Self-declarations

3.2 Change in Average Claim Practice under Final Product Refinement (FPR) Group Certification

Within the scope of Final Product Refinement (FPR) Group Certification, average claims on final products across multiple sites will no longer be permitted if the delivered materials or products at each site are linked to different shares of certified content. Going forward, claims must reflect the actual certified share at each individual site to ensure full traceability and transparency.

This updated requirement will become effective on 1 May 2026.

To support a smooth transition, we are allowing a twelve-month transition period starting on 1 May 2025. During this period, System Users who currently apply the average claim approach across multiple sites may continue to do so while they adapt their internal processes to align with the new site-specific claim requirement.

For any questions or further clarification, please contact us via the ISCC contact form.

4. Clarification: Proof of Sustainability (PoS)

Under ISCC EU and ISCC CORSIA it is possible to provide a Proof of Sustainability (PoS) to a non-certified entity only if the recipient is a final fuel user (i.e. an airline or shipper).

If a PoS has been submitted against a national mandate and/or other obligation, the ISCC Proof of Compliance (PoC) framework shall apply, and a PoS may not be handed further down the supply chain (including to the final fuel consumer).

5. ISCC Credit Transfer System

We have updated the document ISCC Credit Transfer System – Compliance Scheme Considerations (v2.0). The document now includes revisions to the framework of Sustainable Aviation Fuel eligibility for upload to the ISCC Credit Transfer System registry.

Credit Transfer System

6. ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification

The ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) enables the certification of product carbon footprints for various products and value chains. Its development is supported by the multi-stakeholder Greenhouse Gas (GHG) working group under the ISCC Technical Stakeholder Committee – Circular Economy and Bioeconomy.

The revised ISCC CFC System Document (v1.3) introduces a new section (Part I) that focuses on the fundamentals of the PCF methodology basics and provides an overview of the ISCC CFC certification concept. In Part II, which addresses the specifics of individual mitigation technologies, we have revised the approaches for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU). Please find a detailed summary of changes at the beginning of the document.