The European Commission has adopted rules to implement the EU-wide voluntary certification framework for carbon removals and carbon farming. This will be boosted further by three initiatives announced in the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy.

The new Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2358 introduces transparency standards for certification schemes and sets out rules for the appointment and supervision of certification bodies, as well as for audit processes, under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation.

These harmonized monitoring and reporting standards are an essential step to build a coherent and trusted voluntary European market for carbon credits, ensuring that permanent carbon removals and climate-positive actions in agriculture, forestry and land use are quantified, certified and rewarded. Accordingly, obtaining CRCF certification is intended to drive investment and increase demand for verified carbon removals, which is essential for achieving the EU’s climate objectives. 

By creating new business opportunities across the bioeconomy value-chain, the CRCF Regulation establishes the regulatory framework needed to build the climate-positive bioeconomy of the next decade. To this end, the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy has announced three key initiatives:

• To kick-start the voluntary market for CRCF credits, the Commission will establish an EU Buyers’ Club. This voluntary initiative will provide a clear demand signal for carbon farming and permanent carbon removals under the CRCF Regulation. By pooling voluntary demand from private companies, it will help generate new revenue streams for European farmers and foresters, support resilient biomass value chains, and underpin corporate commitments.
• To reduce costs and simplify access to carbon farming, the Commission will set up an EU Carbon Farming Database of models, emission factors, remote sensing products and benchmarking datasets. This will make Monitoring, Reporting and Verification more efficient, helping companies to report scope-3 emissions, and environmental agencies to improve national LULUCF greenhouse gas inventories.
• The CRCF methodology for Carbon Storage in Buildings is planned for 2026 and will help building owners demonstrate the carbon-storage performance of their buildings, helping bring the construction sector in line with circular-bioeconomy principles.

Next steps

Certification schemes seeking recognition under the CRCF Regulation will have to comply with two sets of requirements: 

• The new Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2358
• The upcoming Delegated Acts, which will establish tailored certification methodologies for a wide array of carbon removal activities

The Commission is finalising two delegated regulations for certification methodologies, with adoption expected in 2026: 

• Permanent carbon removals methodologies for activities such as Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS), Biogenic emissions Capture with Carbon Storage (BioCSS), and Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR)
• Carbon farming methodologies for activities such as agriculture and agroforestry, peatland rewetting, and afforestation

To ensure a smooth start, the Commission will start accepting applications for certification scheme recognition, as established by the Implementing Regulation, in early 2026. Following the adoption of the Delegated Acts, each scheme will be assessed based on specific certification methodologies. If all requirements are met, the Commission will issue a recognition decision for a validity period of five years.

In addition, in the first half of 2026, the Commission will host several workshops to further develop the EU Buyer’s Club.

Background

The CRCF Regulation, adopted on December 6, 2024, established the first EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products across Europe. 

The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2358, the first piece of secondary legislation under the CRCF, represents a major step towards putting the EU’s voluntary framework into operation. 

Among the key measures established by the Implementing Regulation is the introduction of minimum requirements for the publication of information on the governance and functioning of certification schemes, as well as on certification activities, until all information is made available on the Union Registry by 2028.

Certification schemes are additionally required to set up mandatory public consultations, as well as maintain internal monitoring systems and complaint-handling procedures. In cases non-conformities are identified, for instance concerning the reported greenhouse gas data, timely remediation and enforcement measures apply. 

Only certification bodies recognized by national competent authorities or accredited by National Accreditation Body will be able to conduct third-party verification audits. Importantly, group auditing in carbon farming is made possible, representing a major step in reducing administrative burdens for small-scale farmers and foresters. 

To read more about the latest EU regulations click here.