Indpendent validation and verification is critical to ensuring the integrity and quality of the projects registered under the Peatland Code.
There are currently three approved validation/verification bodies (VVBs) Organic Farmers and Growers (OF&) Soil Association Certification Ltd and SAC Consulting. Only approved VVB's by the Peatland Code Executive Board are able to carry out validation/verification for Peatland Code projects. Performance of validation/verification bodies shall be monitored by the Executive Board and underperformance may lead to being barred from validating or verifying Peatland Code projects.
VVB'S ISO Accrediation - The UKAS Pilot:
In order to maintain integrity and bring increased confidence to buyers of Peatland Code carbon credits our three independent validators, are undergoing UKAS accreditation to ISO 14064-3 and 14065. This is to provide assurance that Peatland Code projects and their GHG assertion will be validated and verified by an accredited independent validation/verification body.
There are three scopes that validation/verification bodies can be accredited for:
Scope 1 is the head office assessment where all of the conformity assessments take place such as reviewing staff training, quality systems database and policies This usually takes place in person, however if the validation/verification body already holds UKAS accreditation for other schemes it can be carried out online.
Scope 2: Is for restoration validation and this is carried out via a witness audit.
Scope 3 Is for year 5 verification which is also carried out as a witness audit.
Why does the Peatland Code require UKAS Accreditation ?
We want to ensure that:
- Peatland Code projects are validated and verified to the same level of scrutiny from all three validation/verification bodies, that their systems and processes are up to date and that they are best place to issue the GHG option statements and GHG assertions.
- Interpretation of the scheme requirements between the validation and verification bodies remains the same.
For any information related to UKAS or Accreditation please contact our Peatland Code Development Manager: Garance Wood-Moulin, GWMoulin@iucn.org.uk