Scheme Terms and Conditions

1. About these terms

The Scheme Terms and Conditions form the agreement between the SFS operator, [To be confirmed], and each organisation admitted as a member.

The agreement consists of the terms, the SFS Scheme Guidance as published from time to time, the member's approved application and any written decisions issued by the SFS. If there is a conflict, the terms take priority, followed by the guidance.

2. Becoming a member

An organisation applies through this website. The agreement starts when the SFS confirms in writing that the application has been approved and the membership activated.

Membership runs for twelve months from activation and renews annually on payment of the annual membership fee.

3. What members agree to do

Operate in line with the SFS Scheme Guidance; register only genuine, accepted incoming evidence and never use the same evidence under another scheme or claim; keep complete and accurate records; issue Evidences of Sustainability only where the guidance allows; submit each verification period on time; respond to evidence requests and corrective actions in a timely manner; tell the SFS promptly of errors or changes; make only accurate claims; and keep portal accounts secure.

4. What the SFS agrees to do

Operate the scheme, the portal and the SFS Certificate Validator with reasonable skill and care; arrange verification by appointed verifiers; keep each member's private data confidential and separate; and give reasonable notice of material changes.

5. Fees

Members pay the annual membership fee and audit fees as notified by the SFS. Fees are invoiced outside the portal. The SFS may restrict new certificate issue while an account is overdue.

6. Use of the SFS name and marks

Members may use the SFS name and marks only to describe SFS-certified fuel accurately and in line with the guidance. This permission ends when membership ends or is suspended, except for references to certificates already issued.

7. Confidentiality and data protection

Each party keeps the other's confidential information confidential. Both comply with UK data protection law, as described in our privacy notice.

8. Liability

Members are responsible for the accuracy of their records, the certificates they issue and their claims to customers. The SFS is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, and its total liability in any membership year is limited to the fees paid in that year, except where the law does not allow liability to be limited.

9. Suspension and ending membership

The SFS may suspend or expire a membership as set out in section 21 of the SFS Scheme Guidance. A member may end its membership with at least 30 days' written notice. The SFS may end a membership where a suspension remains unresolved for 90 days, for serious breach or on insolvency.

When membership ends, new certificate issue stops. Certificates already issued keep their own live status on the SFS Certificate Validator.

10. General

The SFS gives members at least 30 days' notice of changes, except where a change is needed sooner to protect the scheme or comply with the law. Disputes are first resolved through discussion in good faith. The terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.