Does the Validation and Verification Body (VVB) have to obtain prior authorization from the Gold Standard (GS) Secretariat to perform verification for a Programme of Activity (PoA) that they have performed verification for previously?

Does the Validation and Verification Body (VVB) have to obtain prior authorization from the Gold Standard (GS) Secretariat to perform verification for a Programme of Activity (PoA) that they have performed verification for previously?

Yes. Previously, per the requirements listed in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project Standard for Programmes of Activities (Programme of Activity Requirements, V1.2 paragraph 1.1.4, page 3), it requires that if the VVB has performed a validation activity (including for renewal of the PoA period and inclusion of a proposed VPA/CPA in the PoA) for the registered PoA and wishes to perform verification for the same PoA, they shall obtain prior authorization to do so from the Secretariat.

 

This rule update expands the applicability of Principles and Requirements V1.2,  paragraph 5.1.28 to PoAs without prior authorization from Gold Standard Secretariat. It also introduces new requirements for VVB to comply in case they perform validation and verification for the same project /PoAs, as described below.