CFP Communication Program

Requirements for competence oflicensed reviewer

Established on June 25, 2012
Document ID: C-15-01

Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry

C-15-01
This document prescribes the requirements for licensed reviewers under the CFP
Communication Program (hereinafter called "the CFP Program"). The licensed reviewers inthis document refers to the individuals who have registered to serve as a CFP-PCR reviewer
who conducts Carbon Footprint of Products - Product Category Rule (hereinafter called“CFP-PCR”) review (hereinafter called "CFP-PCR review"), or as a CFP verifier who conducts
CFP verification.
The requirements prescribed in this document will be revised timely and appropriately manner
during activities of the CFP Program.
1. General requirements
The credibility and reliability of the process of CFP-PCR review and CFP verification dependon the competence of CFP-PCR reviewers and CFP verifiers. The licensed reviewers arerequired to meet the requirements for competence prescribed in Sections 2 to 5. Registration
procedures are prescribed in Sections 6 and 7.
2. Knowledge and skills
CFP verifier and CFP-PCR reviewer shall have knowledge and skills in the following fields.
a) Knowledge of LCA/CFP- Knowledge of CFP rules> Knowledge of the program instructions, CFP-PCR, and various rules- Expertise in LCA and procedures for LCA work (general knowledge on LCA)
> Distribution method, etc.
- Knowledge of the quantification method of GHG emissions> Knowledge of GHG source> Knowledge of quantification method of GHG emissions related to site and transportation- Knowledge of environmental declaration label> Knowledge of ISO14025 and ISO14020, etc.
b) Skill of CFP verification- Skill to conduct verification in accordance with the judgment criteria for CFP verification andprocedures for CFP verification- Communication skill- Skill for report writing and reporting- Capability to appropriately handle issues designated during the review process- Capability to make an expert judgment

3. Education and work experience
3.1 General
Licensed reviewers should have the following education and work experiences.
a)Having completed courses of adequate education necessary to acquire the knowledge
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and skills listed in section 2.
b)

Having work experience which contributes to the development of knowledge and skills
listed in section 2. This work experience should be the experience in a technical,
managerial or expert position, including making judgment, solving problems, andcommunicating with other managers, experts, colleagues, customers and/or otherinterested parties.

c)

Having completed a training session which contributes to development of the knowledge
and skills listed in section 2.

3.2 Level of education and work experience
Licensed reviewers shall meet the following standard levels of education and work experience
listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Level of education and work experience for licensed reviewers
Item

Description

Education

Graduated from a high school or higher which is defined in the School
Education Act, or has the equivalent academic background

Workexperience

Work experience in a technical, managerial orexpert position for over 5 years

Knowledge
and skill

Knowledge and skills listed in Section 2LCA-related
workexperience

Experience of LCA quantification
orLCA verification

Staff training

Completing a training session on CFP verification

In addition, CFP-PCR reviewers shall have work experience as a CFP verifier under the CFP
Program. CFP-PCR reviews are required to have higher level of competence than required for
CFP verifiers, and they are required to have completed a training session on CFP-PCR review.

4. Personal qualities
Licensed reviewers should have the following qualities:a)

Ethical: fair, credible, faithful, honest and sensibleb)

Broad-minded: willing to take different opinions and views into considerationc)

Diplomatic: tactfully communicate with others to achieve objectivesd)

Cooperative: effectively interact with otherse)

Observant: conscious of physical circumstances and activities around him/herf)

Perceptive: intuitively recognize and understand the situationg)

Responsive: easily adapt to changing situationh)

Persistent: persevering and focused on achieving objectivesi)

Decisive: timely reaching to a conclusion based on logical reasons and analysis
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Autonomous: acts independently and plays his/her rolek)

Professional: behave appropriately in the workplace as a whole in a polite and faithfulmannerl)

Strong mind: willing to take responsibility and act ethically even if his/her action is not
accepted or can cause discrepancy or conflictm) Systematic: demonstrates effective time management, prioritization, planning, andefficiency.
5. Maintenance and improvement of competence
5.1 Ongoing development of professional skill
Ongoing development of professional skills leads to maintenance and improvement ofknowledge, skills, and personal qualities. This can be achieved in various ways including
additional work experiences, training, self-learning, teaching, assembly, participating in aseminar or meeting, and other related activities. Licensed reviewers should demonstrateongoing development of their professional skills.
5.2 Maintenance of skill
Licensed reviewers should maintain and demonstrate their audit skills, by participating in
CFP-PCR review and CFP verification on a regular basis.
6. Standard qualifications as licensed reviewer
6.1 Definition of licensed reviewer
A licensed reviewer means the person who is approved by JEMAI (Japan Environmental
Management Association for Industry) as fulfilling the qualifications standard prescribed in Article
6.2 and who has been registered as a licensed reviewer.
6.2 Qualifications standard for licensed reviewer
Licensed reviewers shall meet all the requirements listed from (a) to (e), and should meet (f).
a)

Having academic background of graduation from a high school or higher defined in theSchool Education Act, or having the equivalent academic background as specified below:(1) Graduating from a technical college; completing a 3-year or longer upper secondary
course of specialized training college, designated by the Minister of Education, Culture,Sports, Science & Technology; having acquired the certificate for students achieving theproficiency level of upper secondary school graduates, specified by Ordinance of theMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; or completing anoverseas institution of secondary education or higher.
(2) Having completed a course of an educational institution within an organization which isequivalent to high school or higher.

b)Having work experience for over 5 years.
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Having experience of LCA quantification or LCA verification in at least one case.

d)Having completed and passed a training session provided for licensed reviewers which arehosted by JEMAI within the past 1 year prior to the date of application.

e)Being recommended as a person having personal qualities listed in Section 4, by a managerof the organization in which he/she has been working for over 1 year.

f)

Having passed the LCA Expert Certificate Examination which is jointly conducted by JEMAI
and the Institute of Life Cycle Assessment, Japan.

7. Registration of licensed reviewers
7.1 Qualification as licensed reviewer
A person who meets the requirements prescribed in Article 6.2 can be registered as a licensed
reviewer. A licensed reviewer shall follow the procedure to maintain and renew the qualification
registration every year.
7.2 Maintenance and renewal of qualification as licensed reviewer
7.2.1 Maintenance and renewal of qualification registration as licensed reviewer
When maintaining and renewing the registration every year, a licensed reviewer shall report a
record of the following matters. As for b) and c), a licensed reviewer shall have conducted either
one of them.
a)Details of appeals or complaints, if received from a business.

b)

Participation in a training session for licensed reviewers to improve skills provided by JEMAI
or other cooperative organizations.

c)Performance of the following "Continuing Professional Development" (hereinafter called"CPD") for 5CPD hours.

(1) Applicable field of professional skill
The applicable fields are those related to knowledge and skills of LCA/CFP.
(2) Development method of applicable professional skills and counting of CPD hours
Performing an activity that falls in the fields specified above for one hour using the following
methods is counted as 1 CDP hour.
Development
method of skills

Description and requirements

CPD hour(1) Self-learning

Reading books and literatures, learning in a voluntary group(Group discussion in a training session is classified in “(2)Passive activity.”)* Searching information or learning with literatures on theInternet is not approved.
* Reading magazines is not approved, but learning with arelevant featured article is approved.
* Activities such as creating materials, summarizing ideas orchecking are not included in (1).

Hours oflearning4

C-15-01(2) Passive activity(3) Autonomous
activity(4) Project activity

Lectures and internal/external training sessions (includinggroup discussion and presentation in a training session)* Visiting an environmental exhibition, eco-tour, orobservation personally or in a voluntary group are notapproved. However, visiting a business for environmental
observation purpose hosted by a specific entity isapproved.
* Self-learning "before and after" a lecture or a training
session cannot be counted in the CPD hours.

Hours ofparticipation(Note) Timefor break isexcluded.

Internal/external lectures and lectures in training sessions(Group discussion in a training is classified in “(2) Passiveactivity.”)* If a lecture on the same subject is repeated several times ayear, only the first lecture can be counted.
* Creating presentation materials for a lecture or a training
session cannot be counted in the CPD hours.

Hours oflecture

Writing articles or scientific literature in relation to LCA/CFP* Proofreading hours are excluded.

Hours ofwriting

Activities in a temporary research/development project,providing technical instructions or voluntary activity in a
training session held at university or other academic
institution.
* Internal/external activity or technical teaching as regulartasks in a company is not approved.

Hours ofparticipating

7.2.2 Suspension and revocation of qualification
JEMAI can suspend or revoke the registration of licensed reviewer who falls short of expected
appropriateness in performing the works of licensed reviewer, or who violates the rules of thehandling of ethical and confidential matter under the CFP Program. If JEMAI find that a licensed
reviewer had obtained its qualification by some unfair means, JEMAI can suspend or revoke theregistration of the licensed reviewer.

Supplementary provisionThis document shall come into effect on July 2, 2012.

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