SCS Global accredited by ASI for sustainable biomass certification

SCS Global Services (SCS), Emeryville, California, has become the third certification body to be accredited by Accreditation Services International (ASI), Bonn, Germany, for sustainable biomass program (SBP) certification services.

SBP, according to the ASI website, is a certification system designed for biomass in the form of wood pellets and wood chips used in industrial, large-scale energy production. SBP certification consists of a set of standards and processes allowing companies in the biomass sector to demonstrate compliance with regulatory, including sustainability, requirements.

ASI, the appointed accreditation body for the SBP certification system, says it has undertaken a thorough assessment of the processes and procedures in place at SCS and is satisfied that the accreditation requirements for the SBP certification system have been met. Further details and the accreditation certificate can be found at www.accreditation-services.com/archives/certification_bodies/scs-global-services-4.

The ASI accreditation process starts with a desk review of supporting documentation from the certification body and is followed by an on-site head office assessment. The last stage is a witness assessment of a certification body audit. A recommendation decision is then submitted to the ASI Accreditation Committee with the final accreditation decision taken by the ASI managing director.

“I congratulate SCS Global Services on their achievement,” Carsten Huljus, CEO of SBP, says. “There are now three certification bodies accredited for SBP certification, which is an important step in SBP’s development and one that underpins the independent oversight of our certification system.”

Certification bodies must become accredited by ASI if they wish to provide SBP certification services to their clients and prospective clients from Jan. 1. The requirement applies to all certification bodies, including those that are currently SBP-approved.