Specific requirements on radiocarbon ( 14 C) testing
1. When carrying out radiocarbon ( 14 C) testing, economic operators shall apply the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) method. However, they may alternatively apply Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) method if the bio-share is expected to be at least 1 volume % and if the sample is suitable for this testing method, especially regarding particles present in the liquid.
2. Economic operators shall ensure that, when conducting a radiocarbon 14 C test, the type of radiocarbon 14 C test selected can reliably detect and quantify the bio-share. They shall provide details on the accuracy and precision of the results.
3. The radiocarbon 14 C testing shall also quantify any loss of carbon from biogenic origin due to the process of removing oxygen from the biogenic feedstock by making a comparison of biogenic and fossil carbon in the inputs and output products.
4. If the radiocarbon 14 C testing, when used as a second verification testing method of the bio-content in an output, shows a deviation of more than 1 % in absolute terms, compared to the results of the main method used by the economic operator, the values of the radiocarbon 14 C testing shall be considered valid. In the first year of application of this methodology, the economic operators can apply an increased deviation of 3 % instead of 1 % in absolute terms, until they fine-tune their system of testing methods. In addition, the economic operator shall review its main testing methods to correct any system errors leading to such deviation and respectively calibrate the testing method if needed.
5. The frequency for carrying out the main testing method and the radiocarbon 14 C testing method when used as a second verification testing method shall be determined by taking into account the complexity and variability of the key parameters of the co-processing, in such a way as to ensure that at any time the claims of the bio-content reflect their actual shares. The economic operators shall perform the calculation of the bio-content share at least for each batch or consignment. Unless a method is applied that can map the operating conditions related to carbon content in the output for each batch or consignment, the radiocarbon 14 C testing method shall be carried out every time that there is a change by more than 5 %, compared to the baseline conditions, in the feedstock composition in terms of the share of biogenic input or the amount of hydrogen and catalyst inputs in the total mass, the process parameters in terms of process temperature in absolute [K] or process pressure in absolute pressure [Pa] or the product composition. An elemental analysis of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, together with an analysis of the water and solids content, shall be provided as a basis for assessing the parameters of the product composition. In all cases, the radiocarbon 14 C testing method shall be carried out at least once every 4 months.
Record keeping, process control, auditing and reporting of deviations
1. When economic operators claim there is a specific share of biofuels or biogas in the fuel they put on the market, they shall keep samples for at least two years as well as records of measurement data and calculations. Economic operators shall provide certification bodies and their auditors with full access to such samples, records and other evidence. Economic operators shall prepare a detailed description of the main testing method they used, including an indication of its accuracy and precision as also verified through the application the radiocarbon 14 C testing and together with a procedure for its application.
2. In order to avoid the risks of deviations and facilitate retrospective audit verification of the accuracy of claims made by refineries or other co-processing installation on the bio-share in their fuels, economic operators shall apply an overall mass balance system that indicates the biogenic share of input and output. They shall perform this mass balance calculation in parallel to the main testing method in order to check and compare the results of both methods on assessing the bio-share in final fuels produced.
3. If within the boundaries of the refinery or other co-processing installation, economic operators mix the output of co-processing with other fuels, they shall use a mass balance system that allows consignments of fuels produced resulting from biomass, being processed with fossil fuels in a common process, to be mixed with other fuels, while providing adequate information about the characteristics and sizes of the consignments, in accordance with Article 30 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
4. Any deviations identified by the auditors of certification bodies in the shares of biofuels or biogas in the fuel that economic operators put on the market shall be treated as major non-conformities and immediately notified to the voluntary schemes or other certification schemes that verify compliance of the fuel resulting from biomass with the sustainability and the greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria laid down in Article 29(2) to (7) and (10) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
5. The competent authorities of Member States may also verify the claims of economic operators about the share of biofuels or biogas in the fuels they put on the market by using the methods referred to in Articles 6 and 7 of this Regulation. Any deviations identified as a result of these control checks shall be immediately notified to the certification body and the voluntary scheme or other certification scheme that have certified the claims.
6. In case of such notifications made either by certification bodies or the competent authorities of the Member States, the certification scheme concerned shall be obliged to take immediate action by investigating the case. If their investigation confirms the findings of the certification body or the competent authority of the Member State, the certification scheme shall treat the deviations as a major non-conformity and immediately suspend the certificate of the economic operator.
7. In order to rectify the accuracy of the claims, the lower values established by the control checks shall be used as a basis for recalculating the claims. In addition, the economic operator shall be urged by the certification schemes to review its testing methods to correct, inter alia, any system errors leading to such deviations.
8. The effectiveness of the measures taken by the economic operator shall be validated by another audit of the certification body before the suspension of its certificate can be lifted.
