The Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/28/EC) (RED) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, establishes the goal of reaching a minimum share of 10 % in every Member State in 2020 from renewable energy. Regarding the expand of biofuels use in the EU, the Directive aims to ensure the use of sustainable biofuels only which generate a clear and net greenhouse gas saving without negative impact on biodiversity and land use. In its articles 17, 18 and 19 the RED includes a set of mandatory sustainability criteria as part of an EU sustainability scheme and also monitoring and reporting requirements for biofuels and bioliquids. These criteria are related to greenhouse gas savings, land with high biodiversity value, land with high carbon stock and agro-environmental practices. 

Source: EUROSTAT

More specifically, to be considered as renewable, agriculture biomass shall not be made from raw material obtained from land with has, in or after January 2008, i) a status of land with high biodiversity value (primary forest or human-undisturbed forests, highly biodiverse forest, nationally and internationally protected areas, highly biodiverse grassland), or ii) a status of land with high-carbon stock (wetlands, continuously forested areas, some other forests), or iii) peatland (except without drainage).

Source: EURO-Lex