E-02. VERIFICATION, APPEALS AND OVERSIGHT — PROCEDURE TEMPLATE ============================================================== Template to be completed and adopted by the parties; requires legal and tax review for each specific implementation. - Version: 1.0 - Date drafted: 25 September 2026 - Status: template to be completed and adopted - Operator: [TO BE COMPLETED] - Approved by: [TO BE COMPLETED] - Date adopted: [TO BE COMPLETED] - Date of application: [TO BE COMPLETED] Scope: The E-01 assessment process. Related Q&A: Q&A: ESG Star 3–8 — https://tardigrada.ai/qa 1. Application and scope. The application states the unit, scope of activity, period and expected report scope. The coordinator sets the document list and schedule. 2. Impartiality. The verifier documents competence and declares relationships. A person who advised on preparing the assessed data does not verify their own work. The decision-maker and the appeal reviewer meet the impartiality requirement. 3. Terms and fees. The parties agree scope, costs, access to evidence and level of work. The fee covers the work regardless of the outcome. Any fee for admission to the ecosystem is a separate item. Sales and advisory are separated from assessment. 4. Evidence verification. The verifier checks sources, calculations, periods, representativeness and limitations. Sampling and its rationale are described in the report. A site visit takes place where the nature of the evidence requires on-site observation. 5. Findings and right of reply. Draft findings are sent to the organisation with 10 business days to respond. The verifier considers comments while keeping the original findings and an audit trail. An authorised person issues the decision on the protocol scope. 6. Validity and monitoring. The report states validity until a given date, at most 12 months. A material change in operations or data, or disclosure of a breach, triggers an earlier review. The organisation reports a material change within 5 business days of becoming aware of it. The report is not a guarantee of future conduct. 7. Breaches, suspension, withdrawal. Suspected falsification of evidence leads to the decision being put on hold, a fact-finding procedure and remedial action. Suspension of any right to the designation states scope, reason, response deadline and conditions for reinstatement. Withdrawal requires a statement of reasons. Public communication status is updated in line with the agreement. 8. Appeal. An appeal is lodged within 14 calendar days of service of the decision at [address — TO BE COMPLETED]. A different, impartial person decides within 30 calendar days. The decision states its reasons. The procedure does not limit legal remedies. 9. Nature of time limits. All time limits above are proposals of a proprietary pilot procedure. Responsible persons are appointed and the procedure is adopted before any assessment starts. The package does not currently name an appointed verifier. SOURCES ======= 5. ISO/IEC 17029 — verification principles (https://www.iso.org/news/ref2448.html) — Official description of competence, impartiality and consistency of verification bodies; TarDigRada has not been assessed against the full standard. 6. Directive (EU) 2024/825 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/825/oj) — EU date of application of the transposing measures: 27 September 2026. The status of Polish transposition was not verified at the date of drafting. Requirements for labels and claims must be addressed before any designation is launched. 7. Regulation (EU) 2024/3005 — ESG ratings (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3005/oj) — The ESG Star model requires individual qualification; this document does not determine whether it is in or out of scope. Public sources are substantive references. They do not imply patronage, accreditation or endorsement of the project. Before signing, the templates must be completed and checked against the specific business. Project and content author: Ada Margo — TarDigRada.ai