The Air Navigation (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) Order 2021

Verification bodyU.K.

2.—(1) This paragraph sets out the procedures required for verification bodies.

Avoidance of conflict of interest(1)

(2) If the leader of the verification team undertakes six annual verifications for one aeroplane operator, the leader of the verification team must take a three-consecutive year break from providing verification services to that same aeroplane operator. The six year maximum period includes any greenhouse verifications performed for the aeroplane operator prior to it requiring verification services under this Order.

(3) The verification body, or any part of it, must not be an aeroplane operator, the owner of an aeroplane operator or owned by an aeroplane operator.

(4) The verification body, or any part of it, must not be a body that trades emissions units, the owner of a body that trades emissions units or owned by a body that trades emissions units.

(5) The relationship between the verification body and the aeroplane operator must not be based on common ownership, common governance, common management or personnel, shared resources, common finances or common contracts or marketing.

(6) The verification body must not [F1take over responsibility for] any activities from the aeroplane operator with regard to the preparation of the Emissions Monitoring Plan or the Emissions Report, including monitoring of fuel use and calculation of CO₂ emissions.

(7) To enable an assessment of impartiality and independence by the national accreditation body, the verification body must document how it relates to any other parts of the same legal entity.

Management and personnel(2)

(8) The verification body must establish, implement and document a method for evaluating the competence of the verification team personnel against the competence requirements outlined in ISO 14065:2013, ISO 14066:2011 and [F2sub-paragraphs (10) to (13)].

(9) The verification body must maintain records to demonstrate the competency of the verification team and personnel in accordance with [F3sub-paragraph (10)].

Competencies of personnel(3)

(10) The verification body must—

(a)identify and select competent team personnel for each engagement,

(b)ensure appropriate verification team composition for the aviation engagement,

(c)ensure the verification team includes, at a minimum, a team leader who is responsible for the engagement, planning and management of the team,

(d)ensure continued competence of all personnel conducting verification activities, including continued professional development and training for verifiers to maintain and develop competencies, and

(e)conduct regular evaluations of the competence assessment process to ensure that it continues to be relevant for this Order.

Validation of verification team knowledge(4)

(11) The verification team as a whole, and the independent reviewer, must demonstrate knowledge of—

(a)the requirements set out in this Order, the Assembly Resolution A39-3(5), the Environmental Technical Manual (Doc 9501), Volume IV – Procedures for demonstrating compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)(6), and any public ICAO explanatory material,

(b)the verification requirements set out in this Order, and Environmental Technical Manual (Doc 9501), Volume IV – Procedures for demonstrating compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), including materiality threshold, verification criteria, verification scope and objectives and the Verification Report preparation and submission requirements,

(c)the eligibility criteria for technical exemptions, scope of applicability, State pair phase-in rules, and State pair coverage set out in this Order and the Assembly Resolution A39-3,

(d)the monitoring requirements set out in this Order, and

(e)the national requirements in addition to the provisions set out in this Order.

Validation of verification team technical expertise(7)

(12) The verification team as a whole, and the independent reviewer, must demonstrate knowledge of the following technical competencies—

(a)general technical processes in the field of civil aviation,

(b)aviation fuels and their characteristics, including CORSIA eligible fuel,

(c)fuel related processes including flight planning and fuel calculation,

(d)relevant aviation sector trends or situations that may impact the CO₂ emissions estimate,

(e)CO₂ emissions quantification methodologies outlined in this Order, including assessment of Emissions Monitoring Plans,

(f)fuel use monitoring and measurement devices, and related procedures for monitoring of fuel use related to greenhouse gas emissions, including procedures and practices for operation, maintenance and calibration of such measurement devices,

(g)greenhouse gas information and data management systems and controls, including quality management systems and quality assurance / quality control techniques,

(h)aviation related IT systems such as flight planning software or operational management systems,

(i)knowledge of approved CORSIA Sustainability Certification Schemes relevant for CORSIA eligible fuels under this Order, including certification scopes(8), and

(j)[F4except when carrying out the verification of an Emissions Report,] basic knowledge of greenhouse gas markets and emissions units programme registries.

(13) Evidence of these competencies must include proof of relevant professional experience, complemented by appropriate training and education credentials.

[F5(13A) When conducting the verification of an Emissions Report, paragraphs (12)(a) to (i) apply.]

Validation of verification team data and information auditing(9)

(14) The verification team as a whole must demonstrate detailed knowledge of ISO 14064-3:2006, including demonstrated ability to develop a risk-based verification approach, perform verification procedures including assessing data and information systems and controls, collect sufficient and appropriate evidence and draw conclusions based on that evidence.

(15) Evidence of data and information auditing expertise and competencies must include previous professional experience in auditing and assurance activities, complemented by appropriate training and education credentials.

Use of contracted validators and verifiers(10)

(16) The verification body must document roles and responsibilities of the verification personnel, including contracted persons involved in the verification activity.

Outsourcing(11)

(17) The verification body must not outsource the final decision on the verification and the issuance of the verification statement.

(18) The independent review must only be outsourced as long as the outsourced service is appropriate, competent, and covered by the accreditation.

Confidentiality(12)

(19) The verification body must ensure it has the express consent of the aeroplane operator prior to submission of the verified Emissions Report and the Verification Report to the Regulator. The mechanism for authorising this consent must be specified in the contract between the verification body and aeroplane operator.

Records(13)

(20) The verification body must keep records on the verification process for a minimum of ten years, including—

(a)client’s Emissions Monitoring Plan and Emissions Report,

(b)Verification Report and related internal documentation,

(c)identification of team members and criteria for selection of team, and

(d)working papers with data and information reviewed by the team in order to allow for an independent party to assess the quality of the verification activities and conformance with verification requirements.

Agreement(14)

(21) The contract between a verification body and an aeroplane operator must specify the conditions for verification by stating—

(a)scope of verification, verification objectives, level of assurance, materiality threshold and relevant verification standards; namely ISO 14065:2013, ISO 14064-3:2006, this Order and the Environmental Technical Manual, Volume IV,

(b)amount of time allocated for verification,

(c)flexibility to change time allocation if this proves necessary because of findings during the verification,

(d)conditions which must be fulfilled to conduct the verification such as access to all relevant documentation, personnel and premises,

(e)requirement of the aeroplane operator to accept the audit as a potential witness audit by the national accreditation body’s assessors,

(f)requirement of the aeroplane operator to authorise the release of the Emissions Report, and the Verification Report by the verification body to the Regulator, and

(g)liability coverage.