REDIII Level A Risk Assessments for Forest Feedstock

Voluntary schemes play an important role in demonstrating compliance with sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria for biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass fuels. According to the Renewable Energy Directive EU/2023/2413 (REDIII), these voluntary schemes can be utilised for various purposes, including certifying that all fuels produced from biomass meet the sustainability criteria specified in the Directive. They also provide accurate information regarding the greenhouse gas emissions savings from these fuels.

On 6 May 2025, SBP received a positive technical assessment of its certification scheme from the European Commission for recognition under the standards of reliability, transparency and independent auditing required by REDIII for certifying compliance with the sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria.

The assessment results indicate that the SBP scheme meets the existing standards in force on reliability, transparency and independent auditing for demonstrating compliance with Articles 29(3-7) and 29(10) of the Directive. The recognition is awarded for the following feedstock types: (a) ligno-cellulosic (woody) material derived from forest and non-forest land; (b) processing residues from forest and agriculture related industries (outside forest and agricultural land); and woody post-consumer waste feedstock.

To support Biomass Producers with the transition to REDIII, SBP has created and published a number of REDIII Level A Risk Assessments to assist them in implementing the management systems necessary for compliance with the EU RED sustainability criteria. As independent documents, the REDIII Level A Risk Assessments will replace the Annex 6 REDII Level A Risk Assessment from the applicable Regional Risk Assessment.

Biomass Producers can use the consultation draft to demonstrate compliance with the REDIII Level A requirements. If any of the risk ratings in the final REDIII Level A Risk Assessment differ from those in the consultation draft, the Biomass Producer must update its Supply Base Evaluation accordingly.

We invite all interested stakeholders to review the draft REDIII Level A Risk Assessments and submit feedback via the relevant Feedback Platform. See the blue boxes below for details and deadlines.