Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Germany - Greenhouse gas reduction

NOTIFICATION

The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6

 

1.

Notifying Member: GERMANY

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety,

Division C I 5, Robert- Schuman-Platz 3, POB 120629, 53048 Bonn, Germany

Tel.: +49 2289 9305 2470 or 4793,

e-mail: CI5@bmukn.bund.de;

website: www.bmukn.bund.de

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): KN-Code: 2710 12 41, KN-Code: 2710 12 45; KN-Code: 2710 12 49, KN-Code: 2710 19 43 to 2710 19 48; KN-Code: 2710 19 43 to 2710 19 48; KN-Code: 2710 19 21; KN-Code: 2804 10 00

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): Second Law on the Development of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Quota; (106 page(s), in German)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

6.

Description of content: The national greenhouse gas reduction quota (GHG quota) will be continued and the following measures will be taken to this end:

- The mandatory percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fuels will be continued until 2040 and will gradually increase to 59%. This corresponds to a share of renewable energies in total energy consumption of 62% according to the RED III calculation method.

- A general quota for renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin will be introduced across the scope of application of the GHG quota.

- The quota for advanced biofuels (from raw materials listed in Annex IX, Part A of Directive (EU) 2018/2001) will be increased and double counting of advanced biofuels will be eliminated.

- Renewable fuels will only be eligible for the GHG quota if on-site checks by the competent authority according to Article 17 Paragraph 1 of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 are possible.

- The crediting of biofuels from palm oil production residues to the GHG quota will be discontinued.

Further amendments to the Federal Immissions Control Act (BImSchG) serve to implement Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 (ReFuelEU Aviation). In particular, the authorities responsible for enforcing the regulation in Germany are specified. In addition, sanctions for violations of Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 are laid down in the BImSchG. The scope of the Biofuel Sustainability Regulation (Biokraft-NachV) is extended to include biofuels for aviation, and the scope of the 37th Federal Immissions Control Ordinance (37th BImSchV) is extended to include synthetic aviation fuels and renewable hydrogen for aviation. Further adjustments to the 37th BImSchV are necessary to adopt the amended provisions of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 regarding the accreditation requirement for certification bodies.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: The draft law serves to implement the European legal requirements of Directive (EU) 2024/2413 (RED III), ReFuelEUAviation, which necessitates the expansion of the scope of application of the Biokraft-NachV and the 37th BImSchV, as aviation fuels were not previously covered by the requirements in the regulations, as well as the amended requirements of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996. The requirement of the possibility of on-site checks by the competent authority according to Article 17 Paragraph 1 of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 as prerequisite for the eligibility of renewable fuels for the GHG quota is introduced to strengthen fraud prevention as a reaction to several fraud cases involving biofuels during the last years.; Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Protection of the environment

8.

Relevant documents:

·_        Gesetz zum Schutz vor schädlichen Umwelteinwirkungen durch Luftverunreinigungen, Geräusche, Erschütterungen und ähnliche Vorgänge (Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz - BImSchG)

·_        Sechsunddreißigste Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung zur Durchführung der Regelungen der Biokraftstoffquote) (36. BImSchV)

·_        Verordnung zur Neufassung der Siebenunddreißigsten Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung zur Anrechnung von strombasierten Kraftstoffen und mitverarbeiteten biogenen Ölen auf die Treibhausgasquote) (37. BImSchV)

·_        Achtunddreißigste Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung zur Festlegung weiterer Bestimmungen zur Treibhausgasminderung bei Kraftstoffen - 38. BImSchV)

Verordnung über Anforderungen an eine nachhaltige Herstellung von Biokraftstoffen (Biokraftstoff-Nachhaltigkeitsverordnung - Biokraft-NachV)

9.

Proposed date of adoption: March 2025

Proposed date of entry into force: Two days after promulgation

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 7 March 2026

[X] 60 days from notification

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification: F

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety,

Division C I 5, Robert- Schuman-Platz 3, POB 120629, 53048 Bonn, Germany

Tel.: +49 2289 9305 2470 or 4793,

e-mail: CI5@bmukn.bund.de;

website: www.bmukn.bund.de