WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/DEU/9 
15 July 2009  
 (09-3447) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  GERMANY
  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:   
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety 
Division KI III 4 / “Renewab le Energies Law Division” 
Alexanderstr. 3 
D-10178 Berlin 
Fax: ++49-3018-305-3690 Mail: Kiiii4@bmu.bund.de
 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Bioliquids and fossil fuels 
are affected by the draft legislation 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft Ordinance on 
requirements pertaining to sustai nable production of bioliquids for electricity production (129 
pages, in German). A non-binding english tran slation will be published on the homepage 
http://www.erneuerbare- energien.de/inhalt/40712/  within a short time  
6. Description of content:  In the past, bioliquids production has been responsible for 
considerable environ-mental damage (involving such activities as slas h-and-burn clearing of 
rain forests, and such impacts as loss of bi odiversity). The notified ordinance is aimed at 
ensuring that bioliquids used for electricity pr oduction and eligible for the pertinent pay-ment 
framework under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), are always pro-duced in full 
compliance with binding standards for ecologi cal and social sustain-ability. Consequently, 
bioliquids that are produced in non-sustainable wa ys will in future no longer be eligible for 
the pertinent payment framework under the EEG. This will ensure that intensified energy-related use of biomass does not  have undesirable impacts on na tural systems, on climate and 
on social aspects.  G/TBT/N/DEU/9 
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   As of 1 January 2010, therefore, eligibility (w ith regard to bioliquids) for the basic tariff 
pursuant to the EEG will be tied to complian ce with specific requi rements pertaining to 
sustainable management of agricultural land a nd to conservation of landscapes worthy of 
special protection. Furthermore,  bioliquids for electricity production must show a specified 
potential, in light of the en tire relevant value- creation chain, for reducing greenhouse-gas 
emissions. These requirements conform to the st andardised European requirements approved 
by the European Union in Directive 2009/28/EC. A stricter standard is being enacted for the 
extra bonus for electricity from energy crops (energy crops bonus), in the interest of 
environmental protection and nature conservati on. In addition, the Ordinance will provide 
establishing effec-tive private-economic certification and control systems that guarantee 
compliance with the pres cribed standards, throughout all part s of the value-creation chain, and 
that enable all stakeholders to review the qua lity of their goods clearly and completely, at all 
times. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  See 
above  
8. Relevant documents:   - Biomasseverordnung vom 21. Juni  2001 (BGBl. I S. 1234), geändert 
durch Ar-tikel 1 der Verordnung vom 9. August 2005 (BGBl. I S. 2419) 
(Biomass Ordinance of 21 June 2001 (Federal La w Gazette I p. 1234), as  amended by Article 
1 of the Ordinance of 9 August 2005 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 2419)), 
- Bundesdatenschutzgesetz in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung vom 14.  Januar 2003 (BGBl. 
I S. 66), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 1 des Gesetzes vom 22. August 2006 (BGBl. I S. 
1970) 
(Federal Data Protection Act as announced on 14 January 2003 (Fed eral Law Gazette I p. 66), 
as last amended by Article 1 of the Act of 22 August 2006 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 1970)), 
- Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz in der Fa ssung der Bekanntmachung vom 26. September 
2002 (BGBl. I S. 3830), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 1 des Gesetzes vom 23. Oktober 2007 
(BGBl. I S. 2470) 
(Federal Immission Control Act as announced  on 26 September 2002 (Federal Law Gazette I 
p. 3830), as last amended by Article 1 of the Act of 23 October 2007 (Federal Law Gazette I 
p. 2470)), 
- Energiesteuergesetz vom 15. Juli 2006 (BGB l. I S. 1534), geändert durch Artikel 1 des 
Gesetzes vom 18. Dezember 2006 (BGBl. I S. 3180) 
(Energy Taxation Act of 15 July 2006 (Feder al Law Gazette I p. 1534), as amended by 
Article 1 of the Act of 18 December 2006  (Federal Law Gazette I p. 3180)), 
- Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz vom 25. Oktober 2008 (BGBl. I S. 2008) 
(Renewable Energy Sources Act of 25 Oct ober 2008 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 2008)), 
- Umweltauditgesetz in der Fassung der Beka nntmachung vom 4. September 2002 (BGBl. I 
S. 3490), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 11 de s Gesetzes vom 17. März 2008 (BGBl. I S. 399) 
(Eco-management and Audit Scheme Act as  announced on 4 September 2002 (Fed-eral Law 
Gazette I p. 3490), as last am ended by Article 11 of the Act of 17 March 2008 (Federal Law 
Gazette I p. 399)), 
- Umweltinformationsgesetz vom 22. Dezember 2004 (BGBl. I S. 3704) 
(Environmental Information Act of 22 Decembe r 2004 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 3704)),  G/TBT/N/DEU/9 
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  - Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz in der Fass ung der Bekanntmachung vom 23. Januar 2003 
(BGBl. I S. 102), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 10 des Gesetzes vom 17. Dezember 2008 
(BGBl. I S. 2586) 
(Administrative Procedures Act as announced  on 23 January 2003 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 
102), as last amended by Article 10 of the Act of 17 December 2008 (F ederal Law Gazette I 
p. 2586)), 
- Verordnung (EG) Nr. 761/2001 des Europäischen  Parlaments und des Rates vom 19. März 
2001 über die freiwillige Beteiligung von Organisationen an einem Gemeinschaftssystem für 
das Umweltmanagement und die Umweltbetriebsprüfung (EMAS)  (ABl. EG Nr. L 114 S. 1) 
(Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of th e Council of 19 March 
2001 allowing voluntary participation by organi sations in a Community eco-management and 
audit scheme (EMAS) (OJ L 114 of 24 April 2001, p. 1)), 
- Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1698/2005 des Rates vom 20. September 2005 über die Förderung der 
Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums durch den Eu ropäischen Landwirtschaftsfonds für die 
Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums (ABl. EG Nr. L 277 S. 1) 
(Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of  20 September 2005 on support for rural 
development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (OJ L 277 of 21 October 2005, p. 1)), 
- Verordnung (EG) Nummer 73/2009 des Ra tes vom 19. Januar 2009 mit gemeinsamen 
Regeln für Direktzahlungen im Rahmen der Gemeinsamen Agrarpoli- tik und mit bestimmten 
Stützungsregelungen für Inhaber la ndwirtschaftlicher Betriebe (ABl. L 30 vom 31.1.2009, S. 
16) 
(Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for 
direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural pol icy and establishing 
certain support schemes for farmers (O J L 30 of 31 January 2009, p. 16)), 
- Richtlinie 2009/28/EG des Europäischen Pa rlaments und des Rates vom 23. April 2009 zur 
Förderung der Nutzung von Energie aus erneuerbaren Quellen und zur Änderung und 
anschließenden Aufhebung der Richtlin ien 2001/77/EG und 2003/30/EG (ABl. L 140 vom 
5.6.2009, S. 16) 
(Directive 2009/28/EC of the Eu ropean Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the 
promotion of the use of energy from renewa ble sources and amending and subsequently 
repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/ 30/EC (OJ L 140 of 5 June 2009, p. 16)), 
- Europäische Norm EN 45011, Guides ISO 65:1996, ISO/IEC 60:2004, ISO 19011:2002 
(European Standard EN 45011, Guides ISO 65: 1996, ISO/IEC 60: 2004, ISO 19011: 2002). 
- Internationales Übereinkommen über Feuchtge biete, insbesondere als Lebensraum für 
Wasser- und Watvögel von internationaler Bedeutung vom 2. Februar 1971 
(International Convention on Wetl ands of International Import ance Especially as Waterfowl 
Habitat of 2 February 1971), 
- Übereinkommen über technische Handelsh emmnisse (ABl. EG Nr. L 336 vom 23.12.1994, 
S. 68) 
(Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (OJ L 336 of 23 December 1994, p. 68)),   G/TBT/N/DEU/9 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    15 July 2009   
Articles 24 and 34 (2) will enter into force on 1 January 2010. The rest of the Ordinance will enter into force four weeks after its promulgation. Nevertheless, the Ordinance shall 
not be applied to bioliqui ds used for electricity 
production before 1 January 2010. Special facilitations apply to bioliquids used in 2010 (Article 78). 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from notification 
11. Text available from: National enquiry point [  ], or addre ss, telephone and fax numbers, 
e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:    
http://www.erneuerbare- energien.de/inhalt/40712/