Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) Update: Information Bulletin on Verification Body (VB) Accreditation

Background

Verification Requirement: Under section 137 of the CFR, any application or report related to clean fuels must be verified by an accredited VB.

Accreditation

What is Accreditation?: Accreditation ensures that a VB has the necessary expertise, procedures, and organizational skills to provide reliable verification services. This process is based on standards set by independent organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Purpose of Accreditation: To confirm that the VB has the necessary infrastructure and competence to conduct verifications effectively.

Designated Accreditation Organizations

Who Designates These Organizations?: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) designates accreditation organizations such as the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).

Accreditation Standards: These organizations create accreditation programs specifically for the CFR, aligning with International Standard ISO/IEC 17011.

Witness Assessments

The purpose is to ensure that VBs comply with the required standards and criteria within their accreditation scope while delivering verification services.

Process: Conducted by qualified assessors from the accreditation body, witness assessments involve observing the VB’s verification processes in action.

Frequency and Criteria: The SCC and ANAB require periodic witness assessments of VBs as part of their accreditation maintenance. These assessments are scheduled based on risk assessment and the type of verification services provided.

Scope of Verification

Covers various sectors related to clean fuels:

  • Fossil fuels production, import, distribution, and delivery (including hydrogen from fossil fuels).
  • Low-carbon-intensity fuels production and handling (excluding hydrogen).
  • Electricity production, distribution, and related transactions.
  • Hydrogen production from renewable sources and its import, distribution and delivery.

Process Facilitation

Standard Compliance: According to ISO/IEC 17029, VBs must inform their clients about the requirements to facilitate witness assessments, often included in contractual agreements.

ECCC encourages cooperation among the accreditation bodies, VBs, and regulated entities to support a smooth accreditation process that meets all regulatory and contractual requirements.

Scroll to Top