Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 is amended as follows:

in Article 2, point (14) is replaced by the following:

“certification body” means an independent accredited conformity assessment body that concludes an agreement with a voluntary or national scheme recognised by the European Commission in accordance with Article 30(4)-(6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, to provide certification services for raw materials or fuels by carrying out audits of economic operators and issuing certificates on behalf of the voluntary or national schemes using the voluntary or national scheme’s certification system;’;

Article 11 is amended as follows:

the title is replaced by the following:

‘ Requirements for certification bodies and their auditors ’;

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1. A certification body shall be accredited to EN ISO/IEC 17065.

When a certification body conducts verification activities, either with its internal resources or with other resources under its direct control, it shall also meet the applicable requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17029 and EN ISO 14065. The certification body shall only use other resources for verification activities from accredited bodies that meet the applicable requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17029 and EN ISO 14065.

The accreditation of a certification body shall be conducted by a national accreditation body in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 and shall cover the specific scope of certification of the voluntary or national scheme within the scope of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

As part of the assessment of voluntary or national schemes in accordance with Article 30(4), (5) and (6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, the Commission shall also assess, after consulting the European cooperation for Accreditation, if the methodologies, rules, and protocols of the voluntary or national schemes are suitable for accreditation for the purposes of this Article. The conclusion of the assessment of the voluntary and national schemes’ suitability for accreditation shall be included in the technical assessment reports, prepared by the Commission and presented to the Member States as part of the voluntary and national schemes recognition process in accordance with Article 30(4) and (6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

The methodologies, rules and protocols of the voluntary and national schemes that have been recognised by the Commission before or on 24 February 2025 shall be assessed by the Commission by 31 December 2025, after consulting the European cooperation for Accreditation, to ensure that they are suitable for accreditation in accordance with this paragraph.’

in Article 28, the third subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘Article 11(1) shall apply as of 1 January 2027.’

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/196 of 3 February 2025 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 as regards the accreditation of certification bodies and correcting Annex VII to that Regulation ANNEX