THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC, and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 18(3) thereof,
Having regard to Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC, and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 7c(3) thereof,
After consulting the Advisory Committee established by Article 25(2) of Directive 2009/28/EC,
Whereas:
(1)
Member States should ensure that economic operators report to them on the compliance of bioliquids with the sustainability criteria established by Directive 2009/28/EC and on the compliance of biofuels with the sustainability criteria established by that Directive and Directive 98/70/EC, and also that economic operators provide information on certain additional environmental and social aspects.
(2)
As far as these additional environmental and social aspects are concerned, the Commission is required to establish the list of appropriate and relevant information to be reported.
(3)
Several voluntary schemes setting standards for the production of biomass products are in existence or under development that lay down requirements that cover, in part or whole, both the sustainability criteria and additional environmental and social aspects such as those to be covered by the Commission’s list. The Commission may recognise these voluntary schemes as reliable and acceptable sources of data for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with the criteria. It may, in addition, recognise them as containing accurate data in relation to the additional environmental and social aspects.
(4)
The greenhouse gas calculation for biofuels and bioliquids included in the sustainability scheme allows for the use of a bonus if biomass is obtained from restored degraded land.
(5)
The greenhouse gas calculation included in the sustainability scheme includes a factor reflecting emission savings from soil carbon accumulation via improved agricultural management.
(6)
Taking into account the need to ensure that the provision of information on environmental and social aspects does not represent an excessive administrative burden for economic operators, it is appropriate to lay down that this information should be provided in the form of a statement identifying whether or not the consignments of biofuels or bioliquids in question have been certified or accepted as fulfilling the requirements of a recognised voluntary scheme that includes such aspects; whether or not the bonus referred to in recital 4 is used; and whether or not the carbon accumulation factor referred to in recital 5 is used.
(7)
The bonus referred to in recital 4 and the carbon stock accumulation factor referred to in recital 5 concern crop cultivation. For that reason, it is not necessary for information on these matters to be submitted for biofuels and bioliquids made from wastes or residues,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: