Internationally recognised standards

Our Scheme applies our own, national and international standards appropriate to the operations of our Scheme Clients. We are also actively involved in Standards Development through our policy team, public consultations and seeking to continual improve age check practices around the world.

Standards are expensive to draft and develop and are rarely available free of charge. There are strict copyright rules in place, but in the links below, clients can navigate to our shop or to the BSI shop or other locations to purchase standards.

Age Check Certification Scheme Standards

This Scheme is built on a modular approach to applicable standards and technical requirements. As a part of the Application Review Process, a Certification Officer assesses the applicable requirements for the business model of the Scheme Client. There suite of applicable requirements is constantly changing as new methodologies emerge, new standards are developed and new technical requirements are introduced. A full comprehensive current list can be found on the Standards Section of the Scheme website, but include:

ACCS 0: 2021 – General Scheme Rules (covering the process of certification)

ACCS 1: 2020 – Technical Requirements for Age Estimation Technologies

ACCS 2: 2021 - Technical Requirements for Data Protection and Privacy

ACCS 3: 2021 - Technical Requirements for Age Appropriate Design for Information Society Services

ACCS 4: 2020 - Technical Requirements for Age Check Systems

Proof of Age Standards Scheme

The Scheme is the appointed auditor for the UK’s Proof of Age Standards Scheme operated by PASSCO cic – their applicable standards include:

PASS 0:2022 – Proof of Age Standards Scheme - General Principles and Definitions

PASS 1:2022 – Proof of Age Standards Scheme - Requirements for Identity and Age Verification

PASS 2:2020 – Proof of Age Standards Scheme – Requirements for e-ID Validation Technology

PASS 3:2020 – Proof of Age Standards Scheme – Requirements for Data Protection and Privacy

PASS 4:2022 – Proof of Age Standards Scheme - Requirements for Proof of Age Card Design and Construction

PASS 5:2023 - Proof of Age Standards Scheme - Requirements for Digital Presentation of Proof of Age

National and International Standards

BS ISO/IEC 7810:2019 - Identification cards — Physical characteristics

ISO 17065:2012 – Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services

ISO/IEC 19794-5:2011 + A2:2015 - Information technology —Biometric data interchange formats — Part 5: Face image data

ISO/IEC 19795-1:2006 - Information technology —Biometric performance testing and reporting — Part 1: Principles and framework

ISO 27001:2017 - Information technology -- Security techniques -- Information security management systems - Requirements;

ISO/IEC 29100:2020 - Information technology - Security techniques - Privacy;

ISO/IEC 29101:2018 - Information technology - Security techniques - Privacy architecture framework;

ISO/IEC 29109‑5:2019 - Information technology —Conformance testing methodology for biometric data interchange formats defined in ISO/IEC 19794 Part 5: Face image data

ISO/IEC 29115:2013 - Information technology — Security techniques — Entity authentication assurance framework

ISO/IEC 30107-1:2016 - Information technology — Biometric presentation attack detection

ISO 9001:2015 - Quality management systems - Requirements;

PAS 1296:2018 – Code of Practice for Age Check Services

Previous Versions of Scheme Rules

Any previous versions of Approved Scheme Rules will be available to view here, but should not be used for current applications and assessments. They are provided for historical reference purposes.