2023 fraudulent biodiesel imports

Since March 2023, there have been reports of fraud regarding imports of biodiesel from China to the European Union (EU). Biodiesel was allegedly sold as advanced biofuel (produced from feedstocks listed in RED II, Annex IX, part A) on the European market, and has been found to be derived from palm oil and used cooking oil (UCO). These feedstocks are not qualified for use in advanced biofuel production. In fact, the use of palm oil-derived biofuels is to be phased out from 2023, and UCO-derived biofuels are capped in the EU.

The problem was brought to the attention of the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) by biofuel industry bodies such as the European Waste-based Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA), the federation representing the