(fra kommisjonsbeslutningen)

(1) Directive (EU) 2018/2001 lays down requirements for certain fuels, namely biofuels, bioliquids, biomass fuels, renewable fuels of non-biological origin and recycled carbon fuels. The requirements for those fuels ensure that they can only be counted towards the targets set in that Directive if they have been sustainably produced and save significant greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil fuels. Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 lays down sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass fuels.

(2) Voluntary schemes play an important role in providing evidence of compliance with the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. Under Directive (EU) 2018/2001, voluntary schemes can be used to certify compliance of all fuels produced from biomass with the sustainability criteria laid down in that Directive and provide accurate data on their greenhouse gas emissions savings.

(3) On 17 August 2022, the US Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol (‘SSAP’) voluntary scheme submitted an initial request to the Commission for recognition under Article 30(4) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The Commission assessed the scheme and identified some issues requiring amendment. In its last resubmitted request on 13 December 2023, the SSAP voluntary scheme addressed the identified issues and the Commission concluded that the SSAP voluntary scheme adequately covered the criteria to produce agricultural biomass and provides accurate data on the relevant greenhouse gas emissions savings.

(4) The scheme covers agricultural biomass from soybeans produced in the US. It covers only the US and the production and export of the agricultural biomass from soybeans.

(5) In assessing the SSAP voluntary scheme, the Commission found that it adequately covered the sustainability criteria laid down in Article 29(3) to (5) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The Commission also found that the scheme provided accurate data on greenhouse gas emissions savings for the purposes of Article 29(10) of that Directive and applied a mass balance methodology in accordance with the requirements of Article 30(1) and (2) of that Directive.

(6) The Commission found that the SSAP voluntary scheme adequately complied with the rules set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 (2).

(7) The Commission assessment of the SSAP voluntary scheme concluded that it adequately met standards of reliability, transparency and independent auditing and complied with the methodological requirements set out in Annex V to Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass fuels,