European Commission allows UK sustainability schemes to continue under RED II

In the UK, the potential for significant disruption to the UK biofuels market has been avoided after the European Commission announced it will not implement major changes to its assurance scheme recognition process from the end of 2023.

It comes after months of intense efforts from the agri-supply trade association – the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) – working with industry, government and other assurance schemes in the UK and across Europe.

Collaborative discussions led the European Commission to reconsider a move that would have ended accreditation recognition for UK-based voluntary schemes assuring materials for biofuels under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II.

In June, the Commission notified assurance scheme owners AIC, Red Tractor Assurance (RTA) and Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) of its intention to withdraw accreditation for UK-based RED II assurance schemes at the end of 2023.

The Commission said its decision was made because it only recognizes schemes accredited in EU Member States, and the UK is now regarded as a third country since it left the EU.

The rule change posed the potential for UK biofuel materials such as grain, maize and oilseeds to no longer be accepted by EU markets into the New Year.