What is the Union database (UDB)?
The "Union database" is the database provided for according to Article 28(2) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
Legal basis of the Union database for biofuels (UDB):
Article 28 (2) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, the so-called RED II, provides for the establishment of a single and mandatory database at European level covering all sustainability certificates for biofuels in the transport sector and the corresponding feedstocks. In detail, this means:
‘(2).The Commission shall ensure that a Union database is put in place to enable the tracing of liquid and gaseous transport fuels that are eligible for being counted towards the numerator referred to in point (b) of Article 27(1) or that are taken into account for the purposes referred to in points (a), (b), and (c) of the first subparagraph of Article 29(1). Member States shall require the relevant economic operators to enter into that database information on the transactions made and the sustainability characteristics of those fuels, including their life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, starting from their point of production to the fuel supplier that places the fuel on the market. A Member State may set up a national database that is linked to the Union database ensuring that information entered is instantly transferred between the databases. Fuel suppliers shall enter the information necessary to verify compliance with the requirements laid down in the first and fourth subparagraphs of Article 25(1) into the relevant database. …’
Where can I find the UDB?
Here you can find the test version (Acceptance) of the UDB.
Here you can find the live version of the UDB.
Here you will soon find the public wiki page of the UDB.
Here you will find step-by-step instructions on how to access the UDB.
Who has access to the UDB?
Currently, every REDcert-EU scheme user's data has been transferred to the UDB. An invitation email for the acceptance (test) version was sent on March 31st 2023. An invitation for the live version of the UDB will follow shortly.
Who needs to use the UDB?
Entering information into the Union Database is mandatory for all REDcert-EU participants. It is a requirement of the European Commission that REDcert, as a certification scheme approved by the EU Commission, must implement with its scheme users and certification bodies.
Therefore, economic operators within the supply chain of biofuels (liquid and gaseous fuels) used in the transport sector and falling within the scope of the Renewable Energy Directive must complete the UDB with:
- Information on raw materials (from the 1st collection point),
- Information on sustainability and greenhouse gas emission savings,
- Material processing / transformation
- All transaction data on transports (purchase and sale) of raw materials or fuels.
So far, we know that transactions have to be registered within 72 hours after the trade date/dispatch. The sustainability certificate must be updated before the end of the mass balance period. The mass balance period can be selected in the UDB as annual (ATTENTION: only allowed for first-time registrants) or quarterly.
What is the timeline for the UDB?
The EU Commission is pursuing an ambitious timetable that foresees a functional UDB by the end of 2023 that can track all transactions of sustainable biomass and biofuels.
The following overview illustrates the milestones of the project:
Where can I find training on the UDB?
The EU Commission has already offered the following training courses on the UDB, the recording of which can be found here:
REDcert is currently preparing further training courses itself and will offer them (see REDcert-INFO) as soon as the questions that are still open but essential for the smooth operation of the UDB have been clarified.
REDcert-INFO on the subject of UDB
REDcert regularly informs its system participants and certification bodies about current topics concerning the REDcert-EU system. The following REDcert-INFO on the topic of "UDB" have been published so far.
REDcert-INFO Issue 01/2023
REDcert-INFO Issue 02/2023
REDcert-INFO Issue 03/2023
If you are not yet registered for the REDcert-INFO, please contact us.
If you have further specific questions about the UDB, you can send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We ask for your understanding that, in view of the complexity of the topic and the numerous open questions that still need to be clarified with the UDB, we will not be able to answer every question immediately. However, we will endeavour to clarify such questions as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your understanding!