The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Crops (UFOP) has welcomed the Federal Cabinet’s decision to amend the Biomass Electricity Sustainability Regulation (BioSt‑NachV) and the Biofuel Sustainability Regulation (Biokraft‑NachV), describing it as a decisive and forward‑looking step in preventing fraud and reinforcing confidence in sustainably certified biofuels.
The amendment implements Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III) into German law, setting a stronger national framework for sustainability verification across biomass used for electricity generation and biofuels.
UFOP emphasises that Germany is taking a leading role within the EU by tightening oversight and strengthening the credibility of certification systems.
A key element of the revised regulation is the enhanced control regime. Inspection frequency and sampling requirements have been significantly expanded, ensuring more rigorous scrutiny of raw materials and biofuels.
In cases where auditors identify potential breaches during on‑site inspections, they will now be obliged to take samples and submit them to accredited laboratories for analysis. Plant operators must provide full documentation and evidence when requested, ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain.
UFOP also highlights the requirement for certification bodies to be accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) from 2028. Combined with improved monitoring processes, this measure is expected to curb unfair competition and strengthen market integrity.
The association stresses that only a robust, fraud‑proof certification system can maintain trust among market participants, particularly given the extensive list of waste and residual materials published by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). UFOP is calling for EU‑wide harmonisation of these lists when the European Commission presents the forthcoming RED III revision.
The stricter inspection requirements, applicable both within the EU and in third countries, will be a central topic at the 24th International Conference Fuels of the Future 2027. UFOP notes that the BLE is currently updating the positive list of countries, further reinforcing the regulatory framework for sustainable biofuel production.
