The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has today launched public consultations on draft REDIII Level A Risk Assessments for Estonia Forest, Latvia Forest, Lithuania Forest, US National Forest, US Private Forest, and Vietnam Forest. The draft REDIII Level A Risk Assessment for Canada (covering provinces AB, BC, NB, NS, QC) will follow on 20 May 2025. Stakeholder input is critical to ensuring the continued rigour and relevance of SBP’s risk-based approach to biomass sustainability certification.
The REDIII Level A Risk Assessment for Denmark Forest was previously published for consultation on 29 April 2025. Once the Canada draft is published, SBP will have completed REDIII Level A Risk Assessments for all seven regions covered by its Regional Risk Assessments, demonstrating our proactive approach in supporting the sector through the REDIII transition.
To support Biomass Producers with implementation of the EU’s updated Renewable Energy Directive (EU/2023/2413), SBP has created and published a number of REDIII Level A Risk Assessments to assist in establishing management systems that meet the REDIII sustainability criteria. As an independent document, the REDIII Level A Risk Assessment will replace Annex 6 (REDII Level A Risk Assessment) in 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.
SBP’s readiness to support REDIII implementation was affirmed by a positive technical assessment from the European Commission, confirming the scheme’s recognition under the Renewable Energy Directive (EU/2023/2413).
The REDIII requirements come into effect on 21 May 2025. All SBP Certificate Holders with EU RED in their certificate scope must update their management systems in line with the SBP EU RED normative documents by that date and thereafter operate in conformance with the requirements. From 21 May 2025, Certification Bodies will verify conformance during regular audits.
We invite all interested stakeholders to review the draft REDIII Level A Risk Assessments and submit feedback via the relevant Feedback Platform. All details are available here. The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 19 June 2025.
