New EU UCO shipment rules take effect today

Market: Biofuels
21/05/26

The EU's revised Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1157, took effect today, introducing mandatory digital documentation requirements. A transitional phase will run until the end of 2026, resulting in a phased rollout of the bloc's new waste tracking system for flows including used cooking oil (UCO).

The regulation, adopted by the European parliament and the council on 11 April 2024, sets out the content of the Annex VII document and the obligation to complete and retain it for shipments of waste listed in Annex III (the green list) intended for recovery.

A central feature of the new framework is the move to electronic Annex VII documentation, with detailed technical rules set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290, adopted in July 2025. From today, documentation must be created and exchanged electronically via the EU's Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) or interconnected platforms.

EU expert guidance from 27 March 2026 indicates a soft implementation phase. Annex VII documentation is expected to continue in paper-based or national electronic formats until the end of 2026, with no sanctions for failing to submit data via DIWASS during this period. Full operational use of the system is expected from January 2027.

Shipments of non-hazardous green-listed waste, such as UCO for biofuel production, are still subject to Article 18 general information requirements rather than prior notification and consent procedures. These shipments must include the standard Annex VII document, ensuring full visibility of the shipment chain. Market participants said the regime has tightened in practice, but they welcomed the improved traceability to help prevent potential fraud.

Article 18 now places clear responsibility on all parties involved in a shipment, including collectors, traders, transporters, and receiving facilities, rather than primarily on the notifier. The updated framework also reinforces end-to-end traceability, allowing authorities to verify the origin, movement, and final treatment of waste streams. These changes extend compliance risk across the entire supply chain.

By Anna Prokhorova

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22/05/26

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Q&A: Australia's ACCUs could support biofuels

22/05/26

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22/05/26

Q&A: Australia's ACCUs could support biofuels

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Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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21/05/26

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21/05/26

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20/05/26

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20/05/26

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