What is the Environmental Technology Verification program?
Since some advanced environmental technologies that are already in use and are considered useful may not have been evaluated objectively regarding their effects on environmental conservation, end users such as local governments, companies and consumers are sometimes unable to use them with peace of mind, preventing the technologies from being used more widely.
In the Environmental Technology Verification program, a third-party organization objectively verifies the effects on environmental conservation regarding advanced environmental technologies that are not yet widely used (operated as a pilot program from 2003 to 2007).
Implementation of this program promotes the popularization of environmental technologies developed by venture companies, etc., and is expected to help revitalize the economy through the development of local environmental industries and environmental conservation.
In November 2016, environmental technology verification (ETV) was internationally standardized based on ISO 14034, with verification carried out via internationally agreed procedures. The guidelines for implementing this Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program were also made consistent with ISO 14034 guidelines in 2017.
What is verification?
In this program, “verification” means that a third-party organization that is neither a developer nor a user of environmental technology verifies the effects of an environmental technology on environmental protection, as well as investigating any secondary environmental impacts and other important outcomes, in the form of objective data based on tests.
“Verification” is different from “certification” in the sense that the latter involves the setting of certain criteria and the determination of conformity to such criteria.
What is the third-party organization that performs the verification?
For verification, the Ministry of the Environment publicly recruits and selects a verifier. When recruiting verifiers, the Ministry requires that they make efforts to establish a system that meets ISO / IEC 17020 (requirements regarding the operation of various organizations that conduct inspections).
How are the technology fields subject to verification determined?
The Ministry of the Environment determines the technology fields subject to verification based on the following viewpoints, based on the advice of the ETV Program Steering Committee if necessary.
(1) Technology fields where developers and users (local governments, consumers, etc.) voice a need for technology verifications
(2) Technology fields where utilization of information related to the relevant technology field is deemed useful for environmental administration (from a national viewpoint)
What does the verification result in?
After approving the verification report, the Ministry of the Environment issues the logo mark and verification number to the applicant. All verification reports, regardless of the verification results, will be registered and published on this website.
