The National Institute of Environmental Research under the Ministry of Environment (President Geum Han-seung) announced on April 24 that it will sign a Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA)* with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to secure international recognition in the field of greenhouse gas reduction and emission verification.

* An agreement among nations to mutually accept the equivalence of testing, inspection, certification, and greenhouse gas verification results for products traded internationally

As a result of this agreement, South Korea’s scope of international mutual recognition expands to include greenhouse gas reduction (ISO 14064-2) and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (ICAO CORSIA) verification, in addition to the mutual recognition in greenhouse gas emission (ISO 14064-1) verification obtained in 2022. 

Furthermore, domestic companies can now secure international credibility and equivalence for their environmental declarations (such as carbon neutrality) along with the international recognition of verification opinions when they undergo verification from domestic verification bodies* accredited by the National Institute of Environmental Research.

* 13 organizations, including Shinwha Engineering Co., Ltd. and the Korea Testing & Research Institute 

Recently, a South Korean company was able to reduce verification costs and time by more than 50% when submitting emission information for overseas operations in accordance with the greenhouse gas information requirements of the European Union (EU). They achieved this by utilizing domestic verification bodies accredited by the National Institute of Environmental Research instead of overseas verification bodies. In addition, they can now secure international credibility by receiving verification opinions with the IAF　international mutual recognition mark. 

Meanwhile, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established the criteria for accrediting verification bodies for third-party verification of environmental information　(ISO/IEC 17029), such as carbon neutrality declarations (ISO 14068) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management, in October 2019.

Since last June, the National Institute of Environmental Research has been evaluating and approving domestic verification bodies based on international standards (ISO) for various environmental information recognition areas. These include greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprints for entire product production and delivery, carbon neutrality declarations, green finance, climate change adaptation, and environmental labeling and advertising.

President Geum Han-seung of the National Institute of Environmental Research stated, “Through this agreement, we have laid the groundwork for expanding mutual recognition in the field of environmental information recognition, including establishing mutual recognition in the area of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in cooperation with the International Accreditation Forum.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

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