The European Commission will publish the first call for accreditation of certification bodies within the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) framework in April 2026. This step marks the start of the practical implementation of the European system for carbon removal certification, which was adopted last year.
The schedule for the remainder of 2026 was shared on March 2nd, as reported by Carbon Pulse. Accreditation by these bodies is a prerequisite for the system's functioning, as independent parties will be responsible for conducting audits. They must verify that projects meet European requirements before certificates can be issued. These parties will assess measurement plans and verify the project data that form the basis for tradable units in the market.
This phase follows the decision of 3 February 2026, in which the Commission established the first technical methods for permanent carbon removal. These include direct atmospheric CO₂ capture with storage, biogenic CO₂ capture with storage (BioCCS), and carbon sequestration via biochar. Brussels aims to establish a uniform standard to increase the comparability of claims and limit greenwashing. The Commission states that this framework is necessary to increase investment certainty in the sector.
However, the publication of the call for proposals in April does not mean that certified units will be immediately available. The February 3rd methods are currently still being reviewed by the European Parliament and the Council. If no objections are raised, the rules will enter into force at the end of April. After this, the certification schemes and the auditors themselves will have to go through the accreditation process before the actual project certification can begin.
For the biomass sector, the bioCCS and biochar pathways are particularly important. BioCCS focuses on the capture and permanent storage of biogenic CO₂, while biochar involves converting biomass into a stable form of carbon that is sequestered long-term. The CRCF introduces stricter requirements for demonstrating the storage duration, monitoring, and calculating net removal.
The Commission also expects to finalize the methods for carbon sequestration in agriculture (carbon farming) and for carbon storage in bio-based building materials by 2026. In parallel, work is underway on an EU Buyers Club. This initiative aims to aggregate demand for certified carbon removals to support market development. The upcoming accreditation round for certifiers marks the transition from the policy phase to the operational setup of overseeing this market.
EU requirements for biochar certification
To be recognized as an official carbon removal (CRCF), biochar must meet three main requirements:
- Sustainable biomass: Raw materials must meet RED III standards. The focus is on residual flows from agriculture and forestry; primary biomass from high-quality forests is excluded.
- Chemical stability: Stability is measured by the hydrogen-to-carbon ratio (H/C ratio). This should be no greater than 0,7. A ratio below 0,4 is considered the standard for permanent storage of more than 100 years.
- Net calculation: The certified amount of CO₂ is the captured carbon minus all emissions from the chain (harvest, transport and production).
Currently, certification is only possible for soil applications. The methodology for biochar in building materials (such as concrete) is expected later this year.
Source: climate.ec.europa.eu
Photo: generated with AI
