European emissions trading: virtual site visit by verifiers subject to authorisation (05)
Dear Readers,
as the pandemic gradually improves, the conditions outlined in Article 34a(4) of the Accreditation and Verification Regulation (EU) 2018/2067 (AVR) for waiving authorisation by the authority for virtual site visits are no longer met. The conduct of virtual site visits will require authorisation as of the fourth quarter of 2023 (Article 34a(3) of the AVR).
Therefore, an accredited verifier must decide whether a site visit should be conducted virtually due to force majeure. Following the verifier's decision, the aircraft operator or operator must submit an application to the DEHSt. The application must be completed by the verifier and submitted by the operator to DEHSt via the Virtual Post Office (VPS).
The ‘Application for Conducting a Virtual Site Visit’ form on the DEHSt website must be used for the application.
Force majeure is due to serious, exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the aircraft operator or operator. Examples of force majeure within the meaning of Article 34a AVR are pandemics, war, terrorism, natural disasters or man-made disasters. This also includes disasters that lead to the installation being closed to external parties or making it impossible to travel to the site. Force majeure can arise from very specific national, regional, or even local circumstances.
More detailed information on the individual conditions will be provided shortly in the updated guidelines on stationary installations and aviation. The required application form is available on the DEHSt website.
A decision regarding the waiver must be made as to whether the verifier can decide independently or whether authorisation from DEHSt is required. In exceptional cases, the site visit may also be waived in accordance with Articles 31, 32 and 33 of the AVR, depending on the amount of annual greenhouse gas emissions from an installation or by an aircraft operator. These regulations continue to apply unchanged. Details on the waiver of site visits can be found in the guidelines on stationary installations and aviation.
Further information: