EU Regulation on Palm Oil in Biofuel Policy and Supply Chain Risks

EU Regulation on Palm Oil in Biofuel Policy and Supply Chain Risks

The transport sector, which accounts for approximately 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is undergoing a rapid decarbonization transition through the expansion of electric vehicles. However, in sectors where electrification remains difficult in the short term—such as heavy-duty trucks and diesel vehicles—biofuels continue to serve as an important alternative. Many countries have adopted blending mandates requiring a certain percentage of biodiesel use; in Korea, a minimum blending rate of 4% is currently mandated, with plans to increase it to up to 8% by 2030. In the shipping and aviation sectors, the use of bio-marine and bio-aviation fuels is also being promoted in response to international regulations and growing pressure for carbon reduction, and domestic companies are accelerating technological development in these areas.

However, an examination of Korea’s biofuel supply structure reveals that a significant portion of its key feedstocks relies on imported palm oil and its by-products. Palm oil production has long been criticized internationally for driving large-scale deforestation, biodiversity loss, and violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights. In response, the European Union has classified palm oil as a high ILUC-risk (Indirect Land Use Change) feedstock under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II and III, and effectively decided to phase it out from the transport sector’s renewable energy targets by 2030.

In addition, POME (Palm Oil Mill Effluent) is categorized as a residue eligible for incentives under the EU RED framework. However, concerns have been raised that the reported trade volume of POME exceeds its actual production, leading to ongoing questions about data reliability and supply chain transparency. In 2024, Germany, Belgium, and Ireland jointly raised the issue at the EU Council level, calling for enhanced transparency and stronger monitoring of POME trade. Such controversies are not limited to POME but extend to other palm oil by-products such as PFAD, highlighting the growing importance of ensuring transparency and traceability across global biofuel supply chains.

This webinar aims to share the latest EU policy and market developments and related concerns with Korean stakeholders, and to examine future directions for Korea’s biofuel policy.

• Date & Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 3:00–5:00 PM (KST)
• Venue: Half Moon Conference Room, Hi Seoul Youth Hostel
• Questions: Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL)
• Organizers: Climate Ocean Research Institute (CORI), Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL), Office of Rep. Hankyu Kim (Democratic Party of Korea), and Heinrich Böll Stiftung East Asia Regional Office

전세계온실가스배출량의약 15%를 차지하는 수송 부문은 전기차 보급과 같은 탈탄소 전환이 빠르게 진행되고 있지만, 대형화물차, 경유차량등단기간에전기화가어려운분야에서는 바이오연료가 여전히 중요한 대안으로활용되고있습니다. 각국은혼합의무제를통해일정비율이상의바이오디젤사용을의무화하고있으며, 한국은현재 4% 이상 혼합을 의무화하고 2030년까지최대 8% 상향을 계획하고 있습니다. 해운과항공분야에서도국제규범과탄소감축압박에따라바이오선박유, 바이오항공유사용확대가요구되며, 국내기업들도기술개발에박차를가하고있습니다.

그러나국내바이오연료공급구조를살펴보면, 주요원료의상당부분이 팜유와 그 부산물 등 해외 수입에 의존하고 있습니다. 팜유는 대규모 산림 파괴, 생물다양성훼손, 토착민 권리 침해 등 환경·사회적 문제로 오랫동안 국제사회에서 비판을 받아왔습니다. 이에 따라 EU는 재생에너지지침(RED) II·III에서 팜유를 ILUC(간접토지이용변화) 고위험 원료로 분류하고, 2030년부터는 수송 부문 재생에너지 목표에서 사실상 퇴출시켰습니다.

또한, 팜유 생산 과정에서 발생하는 POME(팜폐수)는 유럽의 RED 체계에서잔여물(residue)로 분류되어 인센티브 대상이지만, 보고된 유통량이 실제 생산량을 초과한다는 지적과 함께 데이터 신뢰성 및 유통 투명성 문제가 꾸준히 제기되고 있습니다. 실제로 2024년에는독일·벨기에·아일랜드 등 일부 EU 회원국이각료회의에서 POME 유통의투명성강화와제재필요성을촉구하는문서를제출하기도했습니다. 이러한논란은 POME 뿐만아니라 PFAD 등다양한팜부산물전반에걸쳐나타나고있으며, 글로벌공급망차원에서의투명성·추적성 확보가 중요한 과제로 부상하고 있습니다. 

이번웨비나는이러한 유럽의 최신 정책 및 시장 동향과 문제 인식을 한국 사회에 전달하고, 국내 바이오연료 정책 방향을 점검하는 것을 목적으로 합니다. 

• 일시: 2025년 11월 12일(수) 오후 3시-5시
• 장소:  하이서울유스호스텔하프문중회의실
• 주최: 기후해양정책연구소코리, 공익법센터 어필, 더불어민주당 김한규 의원실, 하인리히뵐재단동아시아사무소
• 문의: 공익법센터어필, apil@apil.or.kr