Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3191 of 19 December 2024 on the recognition of the Sustainable Biomass Program voluntary scheme for demonstrating compliance with the requirements for biomass fuels set in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1657

The ‘Sustainable Biomass Program’ voluntary scheme, submitted for recognition to the Commission on 2 December 2021 and on 18 December 2023, demonstrates, for the fuels audited under the scheme, compliance of the consignments of biomass fuels with the sustainability criteria laid down in Article 29(2) to (5) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 for woody agricultural residues from agricultural land, and compliance with Article 29(6), (7) and (10) of that Directive. The ‘Sustainable Biomass Program’ voluntary scheme also contains accurate data on greenhouse gas emissions savings for the purpose of Article 29(10) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 as it ensures that all relevant information from economic operators upstream the chain of custody is transferred to the economic operators downstream the chain of custody.

Where the contents of the ‘Sustainable Biomass Program’ voluntary scheme, as submitted for recognition to the Commission, change in a way that might affect the grounds of this Decision, the ‘Sustainable Biomass Program’ voluntary scheme shall notify the Commission of such changes without delay. The Commission services shall assess the notified changes with a view to establishing whether the scheme still adequately covers the sustainability criteria for which it is recognised.

Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1657 is repealed.

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply until 21 December 2029.