Key facts
- The European Parliament has rejected a Commission Delegated Regulation concerning soybean oil.
- The rejected regulation would have classified soybean oil as a high indirect land-use change risk feedstock under the Renewable Energy Directive.
- The vote is expected to safeguard the competitiveness and resilience of the European soy value chain.
- The decision provides certainty for farmers, processors, and feed manufacturers reliant on soybeans.
- Soybeans are considered strategic for increasing domestic protein production and reducing reliance on imports.
The European Parliament has voted to reject a proposal that would have classified soybean oil as a high indirect land-use change (ILUC) risk feedstock under the Renewable Energy Directive. The decision, adopted on July 8, 2026, is a significant move aimed at protecting the European soy value chain, enhancing food and feed security, and supporting the EU's bioeconomy.
A broad coalition of industry organizations, including farmers, cooperatives, seed companies, feed manufacturers, processors, biodiesel producers, and agricultural commodity traders, welcomed the Parliament's vote. They view the outcome as a victory for evidence-based policymaking and a crucial step in aligning the EU's renewable energy, agricultural, and food security objectives.
The Parliament's objection to the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2680 provides much-needed certainty for stakeholders who depend on soybeans and their derivatives. These groups rely on these products for Europe's food, feed, and bioeconomy sectors. Soybeans are strategically important for the EU's goal of boosting domestic protein production and reducing its dependence on imported raw materials.
Supporters of the rejection argue that the Parliament's decision will help maintain the conditions necessary for ongoing investment and innovation within the sector. This, in turn, is expected to contribute to the EU's broader aims of enhancing competitiveness and achieving strategic autonomy. The coalition expressed gratitude to the Members of the European Parliament for recognizing the importance of soybeans and for rejecting a methodology that could have hindered the sector's development.
Moving forward, these organizations are urging the European Commission to establish a transparent and scientifically robust framework. This framework should support climate and energy goals while simultaneously fostering the sustainable expansion of European protein production.