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- A statement. Not a certificate.
A statement. Not a certificate.
These rules govern the Energy Up International VVB mark and every reference to a validation or verification statement, report or opinion. They apply to clients, operators, authorised representatives and any third party referring to our outputs.
What we issue, and what we do not.
Energy Up International, acting as a validation and verification body, issues validation or verification statements, reports and opinions on declared data, claims, carbon footprints, GHG assertions, environmental information or CBAM-related data, as applicable to the engagement criteria.
The body does not issue a certificate of conformity through its validation or verification activities — not for the client, the organization, a product, an installation, an imported good, a process, a batch, a consignment or a service.
No reference to Energy Up International, to the VVB mark, to a verification report or to a statement may state or imply that anything is certified, approved, low-carbon, CBAM-approved, carbon-neutral, endorsed or guaranteed as a result of validation or verification.
Every reference stays strictly inside the statement reference number, the assessed subject matter, the scope, the reporting period, the criteria and the assurance level stated in the issued statement.
The terms these rules turn on.
| Term | What it means here |
|---|---|
| VVB Mark | The Energy Up International VVB mark or logo, or any controlled visual identifier issued for reference to a validation or verification statement. |
| Validation / verification statement | The formal output — report, opinion or statement — issued for a defined claim, subject matter, reporting period, assurance level and criteria. |
| Accreditation mark | The mark or symbol of EGAC or any other accreditation body. It belongs to that body and is not transferable to clients. |
| CBAM regulatory reference | A reference to the EU CBAM regulatory framework or its verification requirements. It does not mean CBAM accreditation has been granted. |
| National Accreditation Body (NAB) | For CBAM, a national accreditation body appointed by an EU Member State under the applicable EU accreditation framework. |
Who owns the mark, and what the permission actually is.
- The VVB mark and every validation or verification statement remain the property of Energy Up International.
- Permission to use the mark, or to refer to a statement, is a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence — for the assessed scope, subject matter and reporting period only.
- It may not be assigned or sub-licensed, and may not be used by affiliates, suppliers, distributors, importers, customers or third parties, unless authorised by us in writing.
- We may require use to stop, materials to be corrected or withdrawn, or statements to be returned, at any time where the use is misleading, expired, suspended, outside scope or otherwise non-compliant.
Permitted use.
- Accurate references on corporate stationery, sustainability reports, websites, brochures, presentations and investor communications — subject to our prior written approval.
- Where the mark appears, the statement or reference number, the assessed subject matter, the reporting period, the criteria and the assurance level are shown clearly beside it.
- Public wording reproduces the outcome of the issued statement accurately, and does not enlarge the scope, period, assurance level, criteria or conclusion.
- The mark may be reproduced in a single colour to match existing materials, provided proportions, legibility, clear space and the approved minimum size are kept.
Prohibited use.
- On individual products, product packaging, delivery notes, invoices, customs documents, test reports, inspection reports, laboratory reports, production batches, consignments or imported goods.
- In any way implying product certification, organisation certification, product approval, CBAM approval, regulatory approval, accreditation of the client, or endorsement by us or by an accreditation body.
- In any way misleading as to the assessed scope, reporting period, subject matter, criteria, assurance level, limitations, conclusions, findings, unresolved issues, or the role of the verification body.
- After the authorised period expires, after withdrawal or suspension, after material changes affecting the claim, or where the statement is adverse, modified, withdrawn or carries unresolved material findings.
- Using any part of the mark on its own; altering its colours; distorting its proportions; converting it to greyscale without permission; placing it on low-contrast or complex backgrounds; or combining it with other marks in a way that misleads.
CBAM accreditation: not yet granted
Assessment underwayNo document, website, proposal, statement, logo, marketing material, email or client communication may state or imply that Energy Up International is accredited, approved, authorised or listed as a CBAM verifier — unless and until CBAM accreditation is formally granted by the relevant National Accreditation Body of an EU Member State and appears in the applicable accreditation certificate or scope schedule.
While an application, pre-assessment, extension assessment or review is in progress, wording is limited to what is factually accurate: “CBAM-related regulatory framework”, “CBAM verification extension under development”, or “CBAM accreditation application or extension process”. None of these may imply accreditation has been granted.
Referring to accreditation — and the CBAM line.
- Energy Up International is accredited by EGAC for the activities and standards in its current accreditation certificate and scope schedule. Any reference to that accreditation stays strictly inside the granted scope, activities, standards, period and conditions stated there.
- Clients must not use, reproduce, imitate or refer to the EGAC mark, or any accreditation body mark, unless the applicable accreditation body rules permit it and we have approved it in writing.
- For CBAM, references may be made only to the applicable regulatory framework — Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and the related delegated and implementing acts — as technical and regulatory requirements.
CBAM references — the additional controls.
- A reference is limited to the verified installations, goods or product categories, the reporting period, the embedded emissions data, the criteria, the assurance level, the verification report reference and the final verification statement.
- No reference may imply that imported goods are CBAM-approved, low-carbon, exempt from CBAM obligations, accepted by the European Commission, accepted by a national competent authority, or endorsed by any accreditation body.
- References addressed to the Commission, importers, authorised CBAM declarants, operators or national competent authorities reproduce the verification report reference, scope, reporting period and assurance level without alteration.
- Where misuse could mislead an importer, a declarant, a competent authority, an accreditation body or the Commission, we may notify that party or authority in addition to the enforcement steps below.
Mark specifications.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum size — print | Width 2.5 cm (1 inch) |
| Minimum size — digital | Width 72 px |
| Clear space | A clear area on all sides equal to the height of the letter “C” in the mark, or the approved corporate clear-space rule where a different official mark file is used |
| Artwork | Issued by Energy Up International only. Recreated, scanned, distorted or unofficial artwork must not be used |
Every authorised use is traceable.
- Each authorised use carries a unique identifier or statement reference number linking it to the applicable statement, the client or operator, the subject matter, the reporting period, the criteria and the assurance level.
- Use of any identifier outside the assessed scope, subject matter, reporting period or authorised media is prohibited.
- The identifier is traceable to the issued statement and is recorded in the Mark Use Register.
What happens on misuse.
- We may require immediate correction and corrective action within a defined period.
- We may suspend or withdraw permission to use the mark or the statement reference, require use to stop, and require non-compliant materials to be withdrawn, replaced or corrected.
- Where misuse compromises the integrity of the statement, the assessed claim, our impartiality or the credibility of the output, we may suspend or withdraw the statement itself.
- We may publish details of the misuse, notify relevant stakeholders, accreditation bodies or competent authorities, and pursue legal action where necessary.
Before you publish anything.
Use of the mark, or of any reference to validation or verification performed by Energy Up International, is not permitted until the client or operator has confirmed in writing that these rules are understood and accepted, and until the proposed wording, artwork and media have been approved by us in writing. Send the proposed use through contact before publication, not after.
Describe the claim — not the service.
Tell us what must be relied on, who will rely on it and by what date. We will confirm the correct programme, evidence requirement and responsible entity — or tell you it is outside our scope.