ISCC System Updates 


As of 1 April 2026, a FIT/FIP requirement has been in effect: all biomass power plants approved by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on or after 1 April 2022 must now comply with the established lifecycle greenhouse gas (LCGHG) emission reduction requirements. This applies in addition to the FIT/FIP's previously applicable sustainability criteria. Further details are available in the latest METI documentation on eligibility under the FIT/FIP scheme. 

ISCC Japan FIT already provides a third-party certification compliance solution for operational plants, as well as plants that are close to commencing operations. Additionally, we are developing the ISCC Japan FIT pre-certification option, specifically for biomass power plants up to four years before the start of operations. This option will allow such plants to demonstrate their readiness for future certification to the FIT/FIP authorities. We will inform stakeholders as soon as this becomes available.

System Users interested in these solutions, or in supplying sustainable biomass to Japan under the FIT/FIP scheme, please reach out to us via the contact form.

We have published new guidance relevant to the sustainable aviation sector to explain book and claim for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The guidance document sets out the principles and requirements for the establishment and operation of book-and-claim systems in the SAF market. It defines the roles, responsibilities and processes necessary to maintain integrity, transparency and credibility in the handling of transferable claims along with details of the associated sustainability documentation. It aims to support stakeholders in establishing and operating registries which enable verifiable claims associated with SAF usage.

Public Consultation

We welcome feedback from System Users, Certification Bodies and other interested stakeholders. The Guidance Document “ISCC Book and Claim for Sustainable Aviation Fuel” (v1.0) is open to public consultation until 18 July 2026. Interested parties can download the document and submit their feedback on the ISCC website.

We would like to remind Certification Bodies, System Users, and all relevant stakeholders that EU RED / ICAO CORSIA Dual Conformance (DC) has not yet been approved by the respective regulators. Consequently, ISCC EU / ISCC CORSIA Dual Conformance is currently not permitted until further notice. 

We are actively engaging with the regulators to define the requirements for Dual Conformance and to enable its implementation as soon as possible. Once regulatory approval has been granted, we will communicate all relevant details through guidelines and other supporting documentation and will organise an educational session accordingly.

On 28 May 2026, we will introduce a new voluntary certification add-on for regenerative agriculture to support agricultural supply chains in implementing, verifying, and credibly communicating regenerative agriculture practices.

The Regenerative Agriculture add-on focuses on improving soil health, supporting biodiversity, enhancing water retention, and reducing erosion. By doing so, it helps strengthen climate resilience and contributes to more sustainable agricultural practices. Applicable worldwide, the add-on can be combined with the ISCC EU, PLUS, Canada CFR, and Japan FIT certification schemes, promoting transparent and traceable supply chains.

Certification Bodies (CBs) must proceed as outlined below in cases where the applicable ISCC System Documents require a surveillance audit to be conducted on-site by the CB, and the surveillance audit cannot be completed on-site within the timeframe defined in said applicable ISCC System Documents.

1. Non-cooperation by the System User

If a System User fails to cooperate with the CB to enable the mandatory surveillance audit to take place, this constitutes a critical non-conformity in accordance with the ISCC System Document 102 “Governance” for the applicable ISCC scheme and the CB shall withdraw the certificate accordingly. 

2. Force majeure

Force majeure refers to extraordinary events beyond the reasonable control of the Cooperating CB or the System User that prevent the performance of mandatory onsite surveillance audits within the required timeframe. Such events may include, without limitation, war, armed conflict, terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, governmental restrictions, civil unrest, travel prohibitions, or other comparable events that materially impede or prevent the conduct of the mandatory on-site surveillance audit. 

Where a mandatory on-site surveillance audit cannot be performed within the applicable surveillance audit timeframe due to force majeure, the CB shall suspend the certificate until it completes the surveillance audit. The Cooperating CB shall terminate the certificate only if:

• the required surveillance audit cannot be performed within three (3) months after expiry of the applicable surveillance audit timeframe due to the continuing force majeure event; or
• it is evident that the impediment caused by the force majeure event is permanent and the mandatory on-site surveillance audit cannot be performed within the required timeframe. 

The CB shall apply the termination after suspension at the end of the period defined for the surveillance audit in the relevant ISCC System Document (e.g., for ISCC EU the CB shall terminate at the 7th or 10th month for the 3 or 6-month surveillance audit respectively). Suspension or termination of the certificate under this provision shall be based on the inability of the CB to verify continued compliance with ISCC requirements within the applicable surveillance audit timeframe. 

In both scenarios, CBs must ensure that the relevant changes to the certificate status are reflected promptly in the ISCC HUB.

This is to clarify the definitions and requirements for the following raw materials:

1. Bagasse

Bagasse is a residue material generated during sugarcane processing. Residues resulting from sugar beet processing may not be referred to as bagasse.

2. Non-edible cereal residues and waste from grain milling and processing: wheat, corn, barley, rice

Any material labelled under this name needs to fulfill the three following requirements:

• The material originates from wheat, corn, barley, or rice (no other cereals and/or crops are eligible).
• The material is not fit for use in the food or feed sector.
• The material is generated at a processing unit (not a First Gathering Point) where wheat, corn, barley, or rice are milled or processed.

The ISCC EU material list has been updated. The newly added and revised materials are marked in bold.

We have revised the General Terms of Certification (“GToC”). The updated version of the GToC, dated 22 May 2026, is published on the ISCC website and available here on the ISCC webpage for Certification Bodies (CBs). 

The revised GToC shall take effect on 1 August 2026 for all Cooperating CBs with a valid Cooperation Agreement at the time of this communication (26 May 2026). The revision reflects significant legal changes and requirements from regulators since the last revision on 1 March 2014 and our continuous effort to improve our certification systems.

The GToC govern and define the rights and obligations arising from and in connection with the contractual relationship established between ISCC and CBs holding a valid Cooperation Agreement with ISCC.

For further details on the reasons for the revision and an overview on the main changes, please refer to our document “Background Information on Revised General Terms of Certification”.

The revision is introduced in accordance with Clause 1.4 of the currently applicable GToC, dated 1 March 2014 (available here), which requires ISCC to notify Cooperating CBs of changes in text form or email at least two months before they become applicable.

Under the current GToC, the revised terms shall be deemed accepted by the Cooperating CBs unless they submit a written objection to ISCC by email before the proposed effective date, i.e. until 31 July 2026. Silence will be deemed acceptance.

If a Cooperating CB does not agree with the revised GToC, it may, without notice, exercise their right to terminate the Cooperation Agreement without notice and effect as of the proposed effective date (1 August 2026).

Date: 1 July 2026, 14:00 - 15:00 (CEST, UTC +2)

We offer a regular webinar series to keep our System Users, ISCC Auditors and other stakeholders informed about all recent changes and developments.

The ISCC EU RFNBOs CO₂ Self-Declaration has been updated to include GHG emissions related to the CO₂ capture effort. 

This clarification concerns the treatment of end-of-life tires within ISCC EU supply chains. If end-of-life tires are cut or shredded as part of waste treatment at the Point of Origin (e.g. by a collector operating under the supervision of a national scheme), and the material can be forwarded with a waste code, it qualifies as a waste or residue under ISCC EU. In such cases, the material shall be declared as either “Biogenic fraction of end-of-life tires” or “Fossil fraction of end-of-life tires”.

Crude oil that undergoes processing or partial refining at an oil mill but is not fully refined at that mill or at any intermediate processing unit, shall receive the new material name “Semi refined oil”.

This classification applies, e.g., when processes such as degumming or neutralisation are performed to stabilise the oil, but the specifications of a fully refined oil have not yet been met.

The economic operator performing this partial refining must be certified under the scope “Refinery”. Additionally, if the economic operator supplies waste or residue materials generated during the refining process, they must be individually certified as a Point of Origin (PoO) to supply waste or residue materials under ISCC.