Just weeks after the UK agreed to scrap tariffs on US ethanol imports as part of the US-UK trade deal — a decision that could potentially force British producers to shut down — a whistleblower is challenging the integrity of the sustainability certification process for US corn ethanol exported to the UK under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
In the UK, bioethanol is primarily used as a fuel additive for petrol, specifically in E5 and E10 blends, and corn bioethanol, imported from the US made up around 11% of all biofuels used here in 2024, according to UK Government statistics.
The US imports were certified as sustainable under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system which, according to its website, is one of the world’s largest certifiers of liquid biofuels.
An ex-auditor who worked directly for a Certification Body (CB) responsible for ISCC compliance in the US has shown Byline Times extensive documentation alleging widespread non-compliance and deliberate cover-ups.
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The former auditor, who declined to be named, first complained to the ISCC in December 2022, and, to date, is still waiting for a reply notifying him of the outcome. His last request for an update, on 31 July 2024, was not acknowledged.
Principle Two of the ISCC framework mandates “...
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