Content:
1. ISCC Webinar – System Updates Summary Q2 2025
2. ISCC EU
3. APS Version 5.1 and Gap Audit Procedures
The System Update is mandatory for all ISCC System Users,
ISCC Auditors and cooperating Certification Bodies.
1. ISCC Webinar – System Updates Summary Q2 2025
Date: 8 July 2025, 14:00 – 15:00 (CEST, UTC +2)
We offer a regular webinar series to keep our System Users, ISCC Auditors and other stakeholders informed about all recent changes and developments. 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 must read the system updates and implement new requirements promptly, as some changes are effective immediately or within a narrow timeframe.
2. ISCC EU
2.1 European Commission Has Given a Positive Technical Assessment for ISCC EU Forest Biomass
On 20 May 2025, ISCC EU has received a positive technical assessment from the European Commission (EC) under the RED III for the scope of forest biomass.
The ISCC System Document ISCC EU 202-3 Forest Biomass: ISCC Principle 1 has been updated to incorporate the legal requirements outlined in Directive (EU) 2023/2413 – commonly referred to as “RED III” – which amends Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
Additionally, the System Document ISCC EU 202-4 Forest Biomass: ISCC Principles 2-6 has been revised to remove redundancies in sustainability requirements. Both documents are available on the ISCC website.
2.1 Certificates Have to Reflect Actual Material Flows and Business Activities
We would like to confirm that certificates must reflect actual material flows and business activities. This requirement continues to apply to all audits conducted and certificates issued on or after 21 May 2025 under the revised legislative framework.
Accordingly, the rules communicated in the System Update dated 23 May 2024 remain in effect:
In case no activities under a certified scope were carried out in the previous certification period, the scope cannot be included in the new certificate. This requirement applies for the scopes Point of Origin, Collecting Point, Central Office (of Points of Origin).
> Point of Origin: If a recertification audit identifies that in the previous certification period, no material was supplied/ sold by the individually certified Point of Origin, the scope Point of Origin must be removed from the certificate. Consequently, the mere production of waste and residues is not considered a sufficient activity to qualify for recertification as a Point of Origin.
Please note that if documents are available that prove that a sale of waste & residue material will take place in the near future (e.g. a signed contract), the auditor can confirm this as an activity and recertify the scope Point of Origin, even if no activities took place in the previous certification period.
> Collecting Point: If a recertification audit identifies that in the previous certification period, no material was collected from Points of Origin, the scope Collecting Point must be removed from the certificate.
> Central Office (of Points of Origin): If a recertification audit identifies that in the previous certification period, no material was supplied from Points of Origin, the scope Central Office must be removed from the certificate.
If it was not possible to collect/ supply material from the Points of Origin, reasonable and verifiable reasons must be presented to the auditor. If deliveries from the Points of Origin are expected for the next certification period and this can be demonstrated by the Collecting Point/ Central Office (e.g. by a signed contract), the scope can be included on the certificate.
2.3 Updated Audit Procedures
As announced in the System Update of 5 May, the ISCC EU and PLUS combined audit procedures have been revised to align with the requirements of the RED III.
The following audit procedures have been updated:
- “Chain of Custody” (v5.5)
- “Point of Origin (waste and residues)” (v5.5)
- “Farm/Plantations” (v5.6)
- “Forest Sourcing Areas, ISCC Principles 1-6” (v1.1)
As of 21 May 2025, all ISCC EU audits (certification and surveillance audits) must be conducted in accordance with the RED III requirements as laid out in the updated audit procedures. Please note that auditors are required to use the Audit Procedure System (APS) for audits (see point 3).
The ISCC audit procedures are available in the public section of the ISCC website, as well as in word format in the client section for System Users and Certification Bodies.
2.4 Updated ISCC EU Certificate Template and Guidance
This section is only relevant for ISCC Auditors and Certification Bodies.
The ISCC EU certificate template has been updated to reflect the recognition of ISCC EU under the RED III and to include voluntary add-ons applied by System Users. The update also includes rephrasing of Column 6 from “Determination of certification process” to “Criteria of raw material certification”. The selections remain the same, but the answer options have been changed from Yes/No to A/B.
The template and the corresponding guidance document are available for Certification Bodies in the client section of the ISCC website (login required).
ISCC Auditors are required to use the new certificate template for audits conducted on or after 21 May 2025 under the RED III framework. ISCC EU certificates issued/audited until 20 May 2025 that are based on the previous ISCC EU System Documents remain valid until their respective expiry date (please see System Update of 5 May 2025).
2.5 Updated Self-declarations, Sustainability Declarations and Proofs of Sustainability (PoS)
The ISCC EU self-declarations and templates for Sustainability Declarations and Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) have been updated to reflect the recognition of ISCC EU under the RED III. Additionally, the new templates for Sustainability Declarations and PoS include the option to indicate voluntary add-ons.
The updated self-declarations are available from 22 May 2025 and include additional statements relating to consent for data transfer, including UDB.
All Sustainability Declarations and PoS issued as of the 22 May 2025 must reflect the content of the new templates.
3. APS Version 5.1 and Gap Audit Procedures
This section is only relevant for ISCC Auditors and Certification Bodies.
The changes in the audit requirements are reflected in a new version of APS (v5.1). The use of APS version 5.1 is mandatory for ISCC EU audits conducted on or after 21 May 2025. Auditors may use the previous version (5.0) from 21 May 2025 until 16 June 2025 only if complemented by the respective Gap Audit Procedure covering the updated requirements.
The Gap Audit Procedures (v1.3) are available in the client section for System Users and Certification Bodies.