T&E says UK’s UCO imports could actually be virgin oils

In the UK, Transport & Environment says the UK risks fueling deforestation by driving up demand for used cooking oil (UCO) in transport. The UK’s Department for Transport is rushing through a proposal to require more biofuels to be added to transport fuels which, as a new study shows, will lead to a surge in demand for dubious imports. The EU – which previously monitored the UCO coming into the UK – has raised concerns over inadequate systems to stop virgin oils like palm, which drive deforestation, being passed off as used. T&E, which commissioned the report, called on the UK government not to increase targets for biofuels for transport and to strengthen monitoring of UCO imports to avoid fraud.