# Validation and Verification Specifications (VVS) Consultation ### Introduction Following the revision of ICR’s core program requirements in Q4 2025, the International Carbon Registry (ICR) is launching a targeted consultation with approved Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) to inform the future update of the ICR Validation and Verification Specifications (VVS). The 2025 public consultation revised several core documents, including the ICR Requirement Document, Process Requirements, Methodology Requirements, and introduced the ICR Additionality Specifications. Key topics included additionality reporting, dynamic baselines, permanence terms, enhanced VVB oversight, and strengthened governance processes. At that time, the VVS were intentionally not revised. ICR determined that any revision of the VVS should first be informed by the practical experience of ISO 14065-accredited VVBs applying the updated ICR requirements in real project assessments. This targeted consultation is therefore a complementary next step following the 2025 public consultation. ICR VVB Consultation ### Purpose of the consultation The purpose of this consultation is to: * gather structured, experience based input from approved VVBs on how the revised ICR program requirements are being assessed in practice; * identify areas where general, principles-based validation and verification specifications would support consistent, transparent, and defensible application of ICR-specific requirements in addition to ISO 14064-2; * understand where existing ISO 14064-3-based approaches already function effectively without additional program-level clarification; and * inform the future revision of the ICR Validation and Verification Specifications, ensuring they remain aligned with ISO 14064-3 while appropriately reflecting the evolution of the ICR program. ICR VVB Consultation This consultation is not intended to prescribe detailed audit procedures, duplicate ISO 14065 or ISO 14064-3, or constrain the professional judgment of accredited VVBs. Rather, it is intended to support the development of a clear, proportionate, and principles-based VVS framework. ICR VVB Consultation ### Scope of the consultation This consultation focuses on how the updated ICR program requirements interact with validation and verification activities, including topics such as: * application of ISO 14064-3 as the primary validation and verification framework; * integration of ICR-specific requirements with ISO-based assessment approaches; * areas where general VVS clarification may improve consistency and audit defensibility; * impartiality and role separation; * competence and contextual expertise; and * usability of ICR validation and verification templates. ICR VVB Consultation ### Who is invited to participate This is a targeted consultation limited to ICR-approved Validation and Verification Bodies. Unlike the September–October 2025 public consultation, which was open to a broader stakeholder group, this consultation is specifically intended to gather technical input from VVBs with direct experience applying ICR requirements in practice. ICR VVB Consultation The consultation materials are shared directly with approved VVBs via their registered contact email address in the ICR Registry. If your organization believes it should have received the consultation materials but has not received an email, please contact us at . ### How to participate ICR invites approved VVBs to review the consultation document and submit responses using the questionnaire provided in Microsoft Word format. The questionnaire is designed to collect structured, experience-based input and is expected to take approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, although some organizations may wish to coordinate internally with auditors, technical reviewers, or quality managers. ICR VVB Consultation Responses should be submitted electronically to: **** ### Use of responses and confidentiality Responses to this consultation will be reviewed by ICR and analyzed in aggregate to identify common themes, areas of convergence or divergence, and practical considerations relevant to validation and verification activities. They will be used to inform the refinement of the VVS and associated guidance. The consultation is not part of any compliance assessment, performance evaluation, or oversight action in relation to individual VVBs. ICR VVB Consultation ICR does not intend to publicly disclose individual responses or attribute comments to specific organizations or individuals. However, ICR intends to publish a consolidated, anonymized summary of the consultation outcomes to support transparency around the evolution of the ICR program. ICR VVB Consultation ### Consultation materials {% file src="" %}