Chapter II, Article 6 · Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1640

Contents

Article 6Specific requirements on radiocarbon (14C) testing#

1.When carrying out radiocarbon (¹⁴C) testing, economic operators shall apply the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) method. However, they may alternatively apply Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) method if the bio-share is expected to be at least 1 volume % and if the sample is suitable for this testing method, especially regarding particles present in the liquid.

2.Economic operators shall ensure that, when conducting a radiocarbon ¹⁴C test, the type of radiocarbon ¹⁴C test selected can reliably detect and quantify the bio-share. They shall provide details on the accuracy and precision of the results.

3.The radiocarbon ¹⁴C testing shall also quantify any loss of carbon from biogenic origin due to the process of removing oxygen from the biogenic feedstock by making a comparison of biogenic and fossil carbon in the inputs and output products.

4.If the radiocarbon ¹⁴C testing, when used as a second verification testing method of the bio-content in an output, shows a deviation of more than 1 % in absolute terms, compared to the results of the main method used by the economic operator, the values of the radiocarbon ¹⁴C testing shall be considered valid. In the first year of application of this methodology, the economic operators can apply an increased deviation of 3 % instead of 1 % in absolute terms, until they fine-tune their system of testing methods. In addition, the economic operator shall review its main testing methods to correct any system errors leading to such deviation and respectively calibrate the testing method if needed.

5.The frequency for carrying out the main testing method and the radiocarbon ¹⁴C testing method when used as a second verification testing method shall be determined by taking into account the complexity and variability of the key parameters of the co-processing, in such a way as to ensure that at any time the claims of the bio-content reflect their actual shares. The economic operators shall perform the calculation of the bio-content share at least for each batch or consignment. Unless a method is applied that can map the operating conditions related to carbon content in the output for each batch or consignment, the radiocarbon ¹⁴C testing method shall be carried out every time that there is a change by more than 5 %, compared to the baseline conditions, in the feedstock composition in terms of the share of biogenic input or the amount of hydrogen and catalyst inputs in the total mass, the process parameters in terms of process temperature in absolute [K] or process pressure in absolute pressure [Pa] or the product composition. An elemental analysis of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, together with an analysis of the water and solids content, shall be provided as a basis for assessing the parameters of the product composition. In all cases, the radiocarbon ¹⁴C testing method shall be carried out at least once every 4 months.