The voluntary third-party certification scheme allows producers to differentiate products with customers looking to track sustainability targets and market demands.

The revised criteria mean that the primary forms in which ammonia is sold and used today, such as nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, urea, and urea ammonium nitrate, now qualify for the scheme aimed at bolstering transparency for buyers.

These derivatives can all be used for producing clean hydrogen-based fertiliser products.

TFI CEO, Corey Rosenbusch, said that stakeholders have been seeking credible verification for low-carbon supply chains, stressing that other verification systems are “years away.”

“Our VACI methodology delivers transparency and trust that will inform today’s markets,” he continued.

It also introduces a product carbon footprint tool across the derivatives for producers to verify carbon intensity in manufacturing.

TFI has launched a 90-day comment period for gathering feedback on the move from ammonia producers, fertiliser manufacturers, farmers, food companies, the public, and other stakeholders.

While interest has grown in ammonia’s role as a hydrogen carrier or clean fuel, industry is increasingly looking at using decarbonised hydrogen sources to clean up existing fertilisers.

At COP30 in Brazil, hydrogen groups including the Hydrogen Council, Unido, Ammonia Energy Association, and International Fertiliser Association launched the Low-Emission Ammonia Fertiliser Initiative aimed at accelerating hydrogen-based ammonia fertilisers.