European accreditation process launched to certify wood pellet quality
Certification under the ENplus® scheme allows for the transparent and verifiable communication of pellet quality properties to customers and consumers. Accredia serves as the “Home AB” (Accreditation Body) responsible for coordinating the accreditation of certification bodies within the EA (European co-operation for Accreditation) framework.
As of February 2025, more than 6.7 million Italian households use biomass for heating. In the thermal sector, bioenergy accounts for 70% of all renewable energy sources. These figures come from Bioenergy Europe, the European bioenergy association, which includes the Italian Agroforestry Energy Association (AIEL) as a member.
AIEL reported that pellet consumption reached 7 million tonnes in 2023. Furthermore, between 2010 and 2021, the association recorded a 121% increase in pellet usage for residential and commercial heating, with pellets now accounting for 21% of all solid biofuels.
The availability of certified pellets has become an important requirement in Italy, where consumers are increasingly focused on quality parameters such as consistent calorific value, low pollutant emissions, and more efficient combustion. Using pellets that meet recognized standards not only optimizes energy performance but also helps control costs and reduce environmental impact.
This is the purpose of the ENplus® certification, for which Accredia has started the accreditation process—a development detailed in the Accredia Informative circular DC N° 06/2025, titled “Start of accreditation, PRD scheme, of the ENplus® certification scheme”.
The benefits of accredited certification
Certification under the ENplus® scheme is issued by bodies accredited according to the UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17065 standard. It offers manufacturing companies competitive advantages by improving internal risk management and enhancing their corporate image externally.
Accreditation of these bodies provides the market with assurances regarding the technical properties of wood pellets and the quality management systems in place across production, trade, and service provision—all backed by an internationally recognized standard.
Companies that obtain certification through an accredited body foster consumer trust and gain access to practical tools and training opportunities to improve their business processes. Furthermore, thanks to mutual recognition agreements between Accreditation Bodies, these companies find it easier to enter new markets.
The standard consists of three documents:
- ENplus® ST 1001 – ENplus® wood pellets: requirements for companies
- ENplus® ST 1002 – Requirements for Certification Bodies and Laboratories certifying ENplus®
- ENplus® ST 1003 – Requirements for the use of the ENplus® mark
Accredia as the “Home AB” for accreditation
The ENplus® scheme benefits from European-wide recognition, having successfully passed an acceptance assessment for accreditation purposes conducted by the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA). This assessment was carried out in accordance with the requirements set out in document EA 1/22 A-AB 2023, “EA procedure and criteria for the evaluation of conformity assessment schemes by EA accreditation body members.”
This document harmonizes the approach taken by National Accreditation Bodies, allowing owners of international schemes to undergo a single evaluation process through a designated “Home AB” (the primary accreditation body for that specific scheme).
Accredia serves as the “Home AB” for ENplus®, with Technical Officer Marco Zanardi acting as the point of contact for any EA member body wishing to offer accreditation for this scheme.
As of January 2025, there are 28 conformity assessment schemes that have a designated Home AB in accordance with the requirements of EA 1/22 A-AB 2023. In addition to ENplus®, Accredia acts as the Home AB for the following schemes:
- Europrivacy® for personal data processing activities in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- PEFC for the Chain of Custody (CoC) of forest- and tree-based products
- VinylPlus® Product Label for the sustainable development of the European PVC industry
- A.P Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM) for safe and sustainable agricultural production.
The accreditation process
As explained in the Accredia Informative circular DC N° 06/2025, pellet certification under the ENplus® scheme must be issued by bodies accredited according to the requirements of the standard UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012, as well as any other applicable additional requirements.
The body in question must comply with:
- Accredia General Regulation RG-01, RG-01-03 and RG-09.
Depending on the accreditations already held, the body will undergo a varying number of assessment days, categorized into three scenarios:
Body accredited according to ISO/IEC 17065:2012
- 1 day for document review
- 1 witnessed assessment (on-site observation).
Body accredited for schemes other than ISO/IEC 17065:2012
- 1 day for document review
- 2 days for on-site assessment
- 1 witnessed assessment (on-site observation).
Body not accredited under any scheme:
- 1 day for document review
- 4 days for on-site assessment
- 1 witnessed assessment (on-site observation).
If the body holds accreditations issued by other Accreditation Bodies, a case-by-case evaluation is conducted, in accordance with the applicable EA/IAF Multilateral Recognition Agreements (MLA).
To maintain accreditation—barring specific circumstances outlined in the Informative circular—the body will undergo:
- 1 annual surveillance assessment
- 1 witnessed assessment (on-site observation) during the accreditation cycle.
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