Polish accreditation body updates EMAS verifier accreditation programmes (DAVE-01 and DAVE-02, edition 9): an ISO 14001 audit does not replace on-site verification, new form FAVE-10
In Announcement No. 481 of 30 September 2026 the Polish Centre for Accreditation (PCA) published edition 9 of programmes DAVE-01 (EMAS environmental verifiers) and DAVE-02 (EMAS verifiers in waste management). They replace edition 8 of 17 July 2025 and apply from publication; significant changes are marked in red.
- DAVE-01 clarifies requirements for personnel competence, the rules for using results of an environmental management system audit to ISO 14001 in EMAS verification, planning of witnessing over the accreditation cycle (including oversight of verifiers carrying out few verifications) and the possible forms of assessment when extending the scope.
- Under DAVE-01, ISO 14001 audit results may be used as evidence, but the verifier assesses their adequacy and currency; they do not release the verifier from on-site verification of the system’s implementation and effectiveness, including compliance with Annexes II and III to the EMAS Regulation. Limiting verification to a review of the environmental statement and the ISO 14001 audit report does not meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009.
- Before the first documents referring to accreditation are issued, PCA witnesses the verifier at a client in each cluster of Annex 1; documents for witnessing must be sent at least 10 working days in advance. Both programmes also set out what happens when, for reasons on the verifier’s side, PCA cannot carry out a witness assessment in the current cycle.
- Information on personnel in each NACE rev. 2.1 / PKD 2025 code and on the activity carried out is now submitted on form FAVE-10. DAVE-02 updates references to the rules on international shipments of waste as well as requirements on personnel and on information about planned audits sent to PCA.