Accreditations

Introduction

Catalyst Verification Solutions (Pty) Ltd (CVS) is a third-party validation/verification body (VVB) for greenhouse gas (GHG) under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17029:2019, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14605:2020 and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Mandatory Document (MD) 6 on the application of ISO/IEC 17029:2019, conducting GHG emission validation/verification services aligned with ISO 14064-1:2018, ISO 14064-2:2019 and ISO 14064-3:2019.

The overall aim of GHG validation or verification activities is to give confidence to all parties that rely upon a GHG assertion. As a VVB, CVS is responsible for completing an objective assessment and providing a validation or verification statement concerning the responsible party’s GHG assertion based on evidence, which further aligns to the regulatory requirements as outlined in the the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s “Technical Guidelines for the Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions”.

GHG Verification Process

The scope of the VVB activities include Greenhouse Gas Validation & Verification of:

• Energy
• Industrial Processes and Product Use (non-combustion, chemical reaction and other)
• Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use
• Waste
• Reduction of Energy related GHG Emissions
• Carbon Capture & Storage

The VVB follows the following process steps for each validation/verification project:

Pre-engagement

This initial phase involves the VVB and the client establishing mutual understanding and suitability for the engagement. It includes reviewing the client's request, understanding the claim's scope, assessing conflicts of interest by conducting a risk assessment, evaluating the VVB's competence and resources, and informing the client about processes.

Engagement

This step formalizes the agreement between the VVB and the client, and a client service contract is issued. It defines the scope of the validation/verification, applicable programme and criteria, responsibilities, timelines, fees and the agreed-upon level of assurance.

Planning

During planning, the VVB develops a detailed plan for the validation/verification. This includes identifying team members, defining methodology, determining required data, establishing evidence gathering approaches, setting timelines, and conducting a strategic analysis and risk assessment to ensure a systematic and objective process.

Validation/verification execution

This is the core activity where the team gathers and evaluates evidence to confirm the claim's plausibility (validation) or truthfulness (verification) against specified requirements. This involves reviewing documentation, calculations, interviews, site visits, and data analysis to obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence.

Review

After execution, an independent review by personnel not involved in the execution ensures the process was conducted consistently, impartially, and in accordance with the plan, relevant standards (including ISO/IEC 17029), and the applicable programme. It also confirms that the evidence supports the proposed conclusion.

Decision and issue of the validation/verification statement

Based on the review, a competent and impartial decision-maker within the VVB makes the final decision on whether the client's claim is confirmed. If so, a formal statement is issued, clearly communicating the scope, criteria, assurance level, conclusion, and any limitations.

Facts discovered after the issue of the validation/verification statement

This addresses new information or facts found after the statement's issue that could affect its validity. The VVB has a process to investigate, assess the impact, and take appropriate action, which may include withdrawing, revising the statement, or communicating the new information.

Records

Throughout all phases, the VVB maintains comprehensive and systematic records. These records serve as objective evidence of activities performed, evidence gathered, decisions made, and overall conformity to ISO/IEC 17029 and programme requirements, ensuring traceability and accountability.

Commitment to Impartiality

Top management at CVS is fully committed to impartiality, recognizing its critical importance to the VVB's independence and objectivity. Impartiality is a priority across all activities, ensuring no internal or external pressure influences outcomes. Top management understands the importance of and is committed to safeguarding the impartiality and independence of the VVB, and its activities. As such, we are committed to carrying out our validation/verification activities impartially, managing conflicts of interest and ensuring the objectivity of our validation/verification activities.

This includes ensuring the following –

• 1. Impartiality and independence of the VVB is given priority. 
• 2. No pressures will be allowed to compromise our impartiality and independence. 
• 3. The personnel of the VVB are never pressured to compromise impartiality and independence. 
• 4. The procedure for management of impartiality (CVS/VVB/PROC-5.3) will be always followed and implemented by all personnel of the VVB.
• 5. Threats to impartiality will be minimized by documented procedure is in place for the identification of risks to impartiality and the effective management of these risks, which will be implemented by all personnel of the VVB. 
• 6. Actions emanating from top management do not contradict our commitment to impartiality and independence.

These principles are enshrined in formal policies and reinforced through signed employee declarations.

Complaints & Appeals

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction from any person or organization regarding the VVB's activities or personnel, while an appeal is a client's request for reconsideration of a VVB decision related to the validation/verification. CVS formally addresses all dissatisfaction, originating from client complaints and appeals, which can be submitted via email to customerservice@catalystsolutions.co.za

The VVB maintains a documented procedure for receiving, evaluating, and making decisions regarding complaints and appeals received. The quality manager (QM) acknowledges receipt, explains the handling process, and communicates timelines. All appeals and complaints are recorded in a register with unique identification numbers and categorized by type. The QM investigates each case within five working days to determine its validity against defined criteria, such as impact on verification outcomes, service quality, or personnel conduct. Valid complaints result in a nonconformance, requiring root cause analysis and corrective actions. Outcomes are communicated throughout the process. Decisions are reviewed and approved by impartial personnel not involved in the original activity to ensure impartiality, and no discriminatory action is taken. Upon closure, the appellant or complainant is requested to confirm receipt and satisfaction. The detailed procedure of the handling process for appeals or complaints will be made available to any interested party upon request.