In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland the certification criteria are:
- CCS Scheme Rules – the Scheme Rules show how the Compost Certification Scheme operates.
- PAS 100 – the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) specifies requirements for the process of composting, the selection of input materials, the minimum quality of composted materials and the storage, labelling and traceability of compost products. It specifies requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS) for the production of composts to ensure they are consistently fit for their intended uses.
- Compost Quality Protocol – the Quality Protocol sets out the end of waste criteria for the production of quality compost from source-segregated biodegradable waste destined for use in designated market sectors. If these criteria are met, the resulting outputs will normally be regarded as having been fully recovered and to have ceased to be waste.
Producers in Scotland can apply for End of Waste (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) if supplying to England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.