Greenhouse gas verification is a part of the emissions trading system in the European Union. Verifier organisations verify and confirm information included in greenhouse gas emission reports.
The purpose of emissions trading is to keep greenhouse gas emissions from industrial and energy production plants and air traffic within the European Economic Area within the limits set by the emissions cap for the EU emissions trading sector. An emissions permit is required in the following industries, for example: district heating networks (combustion of fuel at the plant), mineral oil processing, iron/steel production and the manufacture of pulp/paper.
The Energy Authority monitors emissions in accordance with the emissions permit.
The emissions trading register includes all economic operators covered by EU emissions trading. Each operator with an emissions permit is included in the emissions trading register.
Production subsidy is paid as a feed-in tariff for the production of electricity based on wind power, forest chips, biogas and wood fuel. The verifier verifies the yearly production estimate of the power plant and whether the plant meets the requirements of the Act on Production Subsidy for Electricity from Renewable Sources (laki uusiutuvilla energialähteillä tuotetun sähkön tuotantotuesta, 1396/2010). The verifier is also tasked with verifying the power plant's production report regarding the amount of electricity entitling it to the subsidy and whether the monitoring system applied by the electricity producer corresponds to the monitoring plan approved by the Energy Authority.
In the verification of sustainability criteria, the verifier regularly inspects the so-called sustainability system of a biofuel and bioliquid producer and its compliance with the sustainability system in accordance with the approval decision of the Energy Authority. Producers of biofuels and bioliquids that promote the use of energy from renewable sources in accordance with the RES Directive receive financial support.
Requirements and guidelines (updated 19th of January 2024)
The accreditation requirement for all verifiers (excluding EMAS verification) is:
SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17029:2019 Conformity assessment – General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies.
An additional requirement used in accreditation of greenhouse gas verification:
Together with SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17029:2019:
- SFS-EN ISO 14065:2021 General principles and requirements for bodies validating and verifying environmental information. Greenhouse gases.
- EU Regulation 2018/2067 on the verification of data and on the accreditation of verifiers pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC (pdf) of the European Parliament and of the Council
Other requirements relating to accreditation of greenhouse gas verification:
Guidelines relating to greenhouse gas verification:
- Key guidance notes by the European Commission
An additional requirement used in accreditation of free allocation of emissions trading:
Together with SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17029:2019:
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 determining transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances
An additional requirement used in accreditation of verification of electricity production support:
Together with SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17029:2019:
An additional requirement used in accreditation of verification of sustainability criteria:
Together with SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17029:2019:
- RES-direktiivi 2018/2001/EY
- Laki biopolttoaineista ja bionesteistä 393/2013
Accreditation symbol
Accredited bodies are entitled to use the FINAS accreditation symbol, which consists of the FINAS logo, the accredited body's identification number and the accreditation requirement. The FINAS accreditation symbol must be used when the accredited body refers to the accreditation in its reports, for example.
Accredited verifiers use an identifier in which the identification number of the accredited body is of the format VBXX.
EMAS verifiers
EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is a voluntary environmental management and auditing system for different kinds of organisations. An organisation can use it to demonstrate an improvement in its level of environmental protection. The system is used in the European Union and the EEA, and it is open to organisations of all sizes, regardless of their industry.
Requirements and guidelines (updated 13 November 2020)
The accreditation requirement for EMAS verifiers is:
Together with SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015:
Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 (pdf) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)
Guidelines relating to EMAS verification
The European Commission has published an EMAS handbook which provides practical advice to organisations interested in EMAS. Industry-specific reference documents are also available.
Accreditation symbol
Accredited bodies are entitled to use the FINAS accreditation symbol, which consists of the FINAS logo, the accredited body's identification number and the accreditation requirement. The FINAS accreditation symbol must be used when the accredited body refers to the accreditation in its reports, for example.
Accredited EMAS verifiers use an identifier in which the identification number of the accredited body is of the format FI-V-000X.
