AIC has worked with the European Commission to ensure that the Directive is implemented as easily as possible without disproportionate cost to the industry.
As a result, AIC launched a RED Appendix within TASCC and UFAS, updated in 2021 to a Module, to meet the new RED II requirements.
What is RED?
The original Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) established a policy for the production and promotion of energy from renewable sources in the EU.
It and now REDII (recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001) require the EU to fulfil at least 32% of its total energy needs with renewable energy by 2030.
Although the UK has left the EU it is still eligible to take part to produce compliant biofuels. For domestic use, in order for biofuels to meet sustainability criteria and qualify under the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) a way to demonstrate that biofuel meets these criteria is to use feedstocks produced under a recognised sustainability standard scheme, such as those recognised by the European Commission as meeting sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive.
How does it work?
The AIC REDII Module replaces the previous Appendix. It has been accepted by the EU and can be audited alongside TASCC (AIC’s Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops) or UFAS (Universal Feed Assurance Scheme). It is based on a mass balance system and all records need to be maintained.
A Participant’s certification status in relation to REDII will be shown on the AIC Assurance Checker. Please check your customer requirements before applying to the scheme.
How does assurance fit in?
Farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and Scottish Quality Crops (SQC), as well as trade schemes such as TASCC and UFAS have gained approval from the European Commission as voluntary schemes under REDII.
This allows them to be used as the mechanism for auditing sustainability and providing the simplest, most cost-effective solution for farmers and merchants alike.
What are the benefits of the REDII/TASCC/UFAS linkage
- Joint audits with TASCC and UFAS – resulting in overall cheaper audit costs
- Maintain legal obligation to REDII – through annual audits
- Customer acceptance – recognition throughout Europe
- Certification status on the AIC Assurance Checker – updated daily and changes sent as a free email alert
- Use of AIC REDII template documents – free to download for AIC Trade Assurance Participants
- Certification Body audit and certification fee agreed upon application
- AIC registration fee £220 (1 July 2023)