Introduction
This Technical Bulletin applies to all UKAS accredited Verification Bodies for the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). UKAS is now accepting applications for extending accreditation scope to include Activity Group 13: Upstream Greenhouse Gas Removal.
Following the publication of The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Order 2024 No. 1366 and the modifications to the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (MRR) referenced within Schedule 4 of the Order, this bulletin has been produced to update Verification Bodies and stakeholders on the UKAS approach for supporting applications to extend scope under ISO/IEC 17029:2019 and ISO 14065:2020 for UK ETS to include the new Activity Group 13.
The new requirements come into force on 01 April 2025 and relate to the mandatory verification of CO₂ venting emissions in the upstream oil and gas sector, covering both on-shore and off-shore operations.
The monitoring and reporting of the relevant data becomes mandatory for the affected operators from 01 April to 31 December 2025. Most verification activity will take place between October 2025 – March 2026, and submission of verified reports will be required by 31 March 2026. Although schedule 5 of the UK ETS order requires a site visit, this will need to be carried out after UKAS has granted accreditation in the new scope. Therefore, UKAS intends to complete accreditation decisions to extend the scope by 30 September 2025, ahead of the next reporting cycle.
Assessments for UK ETS Scope Expansion
UKAS is now accepting applications from VVBs from accredited UK ETS Verification Bodies wishing to extend their scopes to include Activity Group 13. The assessment activity will follow the standard extension to scope approach, including:
- A document review (0.25 days)
- A Head Office Assessment (0.75 days site/remote + 0.5 days reporting)
- Assessment Manager effort (1.0 day)
- Witnessed assessments will not be required for granting accreditation but will be scheduled during the ongoing accreditation cycle following the grant of extension
While new applicants that are not already accredited to ISO/IEC 17029:2019 for ISO 14065:2020 and UK ETS will be welcomed, please note that it is unlikely that accreditation can be obtained in time for the 2025-26 reporting period.
Assessment timeline
| Date | Milestone / Activity |
|---|---|
| 28 April 2025 | Technical Bulletin Published - UKAS is accepting applications for scope extension from this date |
| 31 August 2025 | All assessment activity to be completed |
| 30 September 2025 | All accreditation decisions to be completed |
| 31 March 2026 | Accredited verification of operator data to be completed in new scope Annual surveillance/reassessment activity of UK ETS verification bodies to be completed |
| 01 June 2026 | UKAS to submit annual report to Competent Authority |
Should you require any clarification on the above, please contact your Assessment Manager in the first instance. In the absence of your Assessment Manager, one of the following may be able to assist:
- Richard McFarlane: Head of Technical Coordination – [email protected]
- Adam Ward: Accreditation Specialist – [email protected]
- Leanie Du Toit: CCV Section Head – [email protected]
Download this Technical Bulletin as a pdf here.