Biofuels

Netherlands Publishes RVO Scenario Study on Brandstoftransitieverplichting 2031–2040

In May 2026 the Dutch government published an RVO scenario study analysing options to extend the national Fuel Transition Obligation for transport (Brandstoftransitieverplichting) through 2031–2040. While non-binding, the report outlines ambitious trajectories for renewable fuel use, CO2 targets and price impacts across road, inland shipping and maritime sectors, signalling how future Dutch and EU climate policy could tighten obligations for fuel and shipping suppliers.

12 May 2026, 18:16zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands State Secretary Outlines Final Steps for RED III Transport-Fuels Implementation

The Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management has issued a decision note and parliamentary letter signalling that national implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II/RED III) for transport fuels is largely complete and will apply retroactively from 1 January 2026. Fuel suppliers and transport operators in the Netherlands should prepare for backdated quota and sustainability obligations under the RED framework and track potential follow-on changes around the fuel transition obligation, mass balance rules, advanced biofuels caps and Clean Fuel Contracts.

12 May 2026, 18:15zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

European Commission Plans Implementing Regulation on Certification of Intermediate Crops for Bioenergy

The European Commission has told Parliament it will publish a draft implementing regulation, to be adopted by end-2026, setting EU sustainability certification rules for agricultural intermediate crops used to produce biofuels and biogas. This commitment signals forthcoming binding criteria that bioenergy producers, fuel suppliers and farmers will need to align with, influencing investment decisions and feedstock planning ahead of the green transition.

9 May 2026, 19:00europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

US IRS Changes Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit Hearing to Telephonic-Only

IRS has converted the 27–29 May 2026 public hearing on proposed Section 45Z clean fuel production credit regulations to a telephonic-only format, keeping the existing dates and times. Stakeholders following this rulemaking must now plan for remote attendance by the stated May deadlines, with no changes to the underlying credit eligibility or emissions-calculation proposals.

9 May 2026, 13:24public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

European Commission Proposes Amendments to Animal By-Products Implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 on Necrophagous Birds and Renewable Fuels

The European Commission has circulated a draft amendment to the animal by-products implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, with Denmark running a very short consultation ahead of an EU committee vote in mid-May 2026. The changes mainly affect how animal by-products are used to feed necrophagous birds and how renewable fuels from animal fats are classified and marked, so processors and fuel suppliers should assess whether their operations or supply chains rely on these streams and plan for possible adjustments from 2027.

9 May 2026, 07:04prodstoragehoeringspo.blob.core.windows.netEuropean UnionDenmark

Hungary Adopts Decree 488/2025 Tightening Renewable Fuel Sustainability Criteria and Quotas

In December 2025 Hungary adopted Decree 488/2025, tightening sustainability criteria, 2026 renewable fuel quotas, and penalties under its national biofuels and renewable transport energy framework. These changes raise GHG-saving thresholds, boost advanced biofuel and renewable hydrogen targets towards 2030, and add investment- and green-charging-based compliance flexibilities that fuel suppliers must factor into medium-term decarbonisation and capital planning.

8 May 2026, 07:00magyarkozlony.huHungary

Hungary Adopts Decree 39/2025 Aligning Biomass Sustainability and Christmas Tree Support Rules With EU Renewable Energy Law

In August 2025 Hungary’s agriculture ministry adopted Decree 39/2025 to amend national rules on Christmas tree plantation support and on sustainable cultivation of biomass used for renewable energy, aligning them with updated EU renewable energy directives. This resets the sustainability and land-use baseline for biomass feedstock and renewable fuel projects in Hungary, so operators and certification schemes should reassess whether existing and planned activities still meet eligibility criteria for support and for counting towards EU targets.

8 May 2026, 06:41njt.jog.gov.huHungary

Romania Launches Consultation On €500 Million State Aid Scheme For Biofuel Production

In April 2026 Romania’s Ministry of Energy opened a public consultation on a €500 million state aid scheme to finance new biofuel production capacity, funded through the EU Modernisation Fund. The scheme signals major medium-term support for advanced biofuels such as bioethanol and sustainable aviation fuel, creating significant investment opportunities but also tight implementation and performance obligations for energy and fuel producers in Romania.

5 May 2026, 14:06energie.gov.roRomania

US House Introduces H.R. 8536 To Reform Clean Air Act Renewable Fuel Standard

In April 2026, a US House bill (H.R. 8536) was introduced to amend the Clean Air Act and reform the federal Renewable Fuel Standard programme. Although the bill text is not yet available, it signals potential future changes to renewable fuel and compliance obligations for transportation fuel suppliers, so affected companies should monitor its progress through Congress.

4 May 2026, 18:27congress.govUnited States

UK DESNZ Outlines Biomass Sustainability Framework and UK ETS Expansion to Waste Incineration

DESNZ has confirmed in a written parliamentary answer that biomass electricity generators receiving support must meet strict supply-chain greenhouse gas sustainability criteria and that a cross-sector biomass sustainability framework is being developed, while restating the government’s commitment to extend the UK ETS to waste incineration. This reinforces the policy trajectory towards stricter sustainability governance for supported biomass and new carbon costs for waste incineration, but without yet setting consultation dates or implementation timelines that companies can plan against.

28 Apr 2026, 19:56qna.files.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

Germany Bundestag Passes Second THG-Quota Act – 65% CO2 Reduction For Road Transport Fuels By 2040

In April 2026 Germany’s Bundestag approved a major overhaul of the greenhouse gas reduction quota for road transport fuels, obliging fuel suppliers to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by 65% by 2040 while ramping up quotas for green hydrogen, advanced biofuels and electric charging. This sets a long-term, binding decarbonisation pathway for the fuel mix, forcing oil and fuel suppliers to redirect investment into renewable fuels and charging infrastructure and giving hydrogen, biofuel and EV providers much clearer demand and planning signals.

28 Apr 2026, 19:18bundesumweltministerium.deGermany

Malta Adopts 2026 Sustainability Criteria Regulations for Biofuels and Biomass Fuels

Malta has adopted 2026 regulations transposing updated EU renewable energy rules and locking in detailed sustainability and greenhouse-gas saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels used in its energy system. Producers, importers and energy utilities relying on bio-based or waste-based fuels for Maltese renewable targets or subsidies must now meet stringent feedstock, efficiency and chain-of-custody requirements or risk losing eligibility, support, and credit towards national obligations.

28 Apr 2026, 18:24eur-lex.europa.euMalta

US House Agriculture Committee Reports Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

The US House Agriculture Committee has reported H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, advancing a major farm bill that would reshape USDA conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, and energy programmes through 2031. Title IX would modernise federal support for biobased products, renewable chemicals, biofuels, biorefineries, and related energy programmes, signalling long-term policy backing for the US bioeconomy and marking a key process milestone rather than an immediate new compliance obligation.

25 Apr 2026, 10:52govinfo.govUnited States

US House Resolution to Disapprove EPA 2026–2027 RFS Rule Under CRA (H.J. Res. 157)

US lawmakers have introduced H.J. Res. 157 under the Congressional Review Act to overturn EPA’s 2026–2027 Renewable Fuel Standard rule, including its partial waiver of 2025 cellulosic biofuel volumes. If advanced, this move would challenge the current RFS trajectory and could materially affect compliance planning, RIN markets, and investment decisions for refiners and renewable fuel producers.

24 Apr 2026, 12:03govinfo.govUnited States

Japan MOE Opens FY2026 Call for Decarbonised Circular Economy and Plastic Resource‑Circulation Demonstration Projects

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has opened a FY2026 funding call for demonstration projects that combine decarbonisation with circular use of plastics, microplastics substitutes, waste biomass and waste oil, with applications due by 29 May 2026. The programme signals strong policy backing and co-funding opportunities for companies and consortia developing scalable low-carbon materials, plastics recycling, sustainable aviation fuels and advanced waste-oil recovery solutions.

23 Apr 2026, 12:27env.go.jpJapan

Scotland Issues 2026 Direction on Eligible Fuels for Maritime Emissions Reduction Claims

Scotland has adopted a 2026 Direction, effective 1 July 2026, that designates fuels certified under specified sustainability schemes as eligible for maritime emissions reduction claims under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme in Scotland. This will shape fuel sourcing and certification strategies for UK ETS maritime operators and fuel suppliers serving Scottish routes, determining which low‑carbon fuels deliver recognised emissions‑reduction benefits in the scheme.

23 Apr 2026, 10:34gov.scotUnited Kingdom

EEA Joint Committee Decision 290/2025 Incorporates Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1640 into Annex IV (Energy)

In December 2025 the EEA Joint Committee amended Annex IV (Energy) to incorporate EU Delegated Regulation 2023/1640, aligning EEA rules with the EU methodology for counting biofuels and biogas for transport derived from biomass co-processed with fossil fuels. Biofuel producers and fuel suppliers operating in the EU and EEA must now apply this harmonised calculation method when demonstrating renewable transport energy shares, influencing eligibility for targets, incentives, and regulatory reporting.

22 Apr 2026, 13:59eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionNorwayIcelandLiechtenstein

EEA Joint Committee Decision 291/2025 Adds Renewable Fuel Sustainability Schemes to Annex IV (Energy)

EEA Joint Committee Decision 291/2025, published in April 2026, amends Annex IV (Energy) to the EEA Agreement to incorporate six EU implementing decisions recognising voluntary certification schemes such as ISCC EU, REDcert-EU, PEFC, CertifHy, Sustainable Biomass Program and US SSAP under the Renewable Energy Directive. Once in force, operators supplying biofuels, biomass fuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin into EEA EFTA markets can use these schemes to demonstrate RED II sustainability compliance, shaping sourcing choices and certification strategies for renewable energy supply chains.

21 Apr 2026, 20:14eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Economic AreaEuropean Union

Brazil/US/Europe: Investigation Links 'Green' Diesel Supply Chain to Slaughterhouse Convicted for Illegal Amazon Deforestation

A new Repórter Brasil investigation links US renewable diesel exports to Europe with Brazilian beef-tallow suppliers connected to a slaughterhouse convicted for illegal cattle ranching inside the Jaci-Paraná reserve. This exposes a potential blind spot in “sustainable” biofuel certification and signals heightened deforestation, due-diligence, and reputational risk for fuel producers, offtakers, and buyers relying on animal-fat feedstocks in EU and UK markets.

19 Apr 2026, 16:59reporterbrasil.org.brBrazilUnited StatesUnited KingdomNetherlandsNorwayBelgium

Slovenia Government Proposes Amendments to Regulation on Physico‑Chemical Properties of Liquid Fuels

Slovenia is advancing a draft amendment to its Regulation on the Physico‑Chemical Properties of Liquid Fuels to align petrol and diesel blend specifications with recent EU renewable energy and fuel quality legislation in 2026. If adopted, this will reshape allowable high‑ethanol and FAME diesel blends, tightening product‑specification risk for fuel suppliers and importers while supporting the shift toward higher renewable content in transport fuels.

19 Apr 2026, 16:59gradiva.vlada.siSlovenia