How Nabisy Shapes REDCert Compliance in Germany

A Guide for Collectors, Traders, and SAF Producers

Germany has long been a front-runner in sustainable biofuel certification. At the heart of it sits Nabisy, the national database that drives compliance, quota recognition, and REDCert reporting.

For collectors, biodiesel producers, and SAF suppliers operating in Germany, understanding how REDCert certification aligns with Nabisy workflows can make the difference between seamless quota approvals and failed submissions.

This guide breaks down what you need to know, especially as RED III and Union Database (UDB) requirements expand in parallel.

What Is Nabisy and Why Does It Matter

Nabisy (Nachhaltigkeitsnachweissystem) is Germany’s national database for biofuel and biogas sustainability tracking. Administered by BLE (Federal Office for Agriculture and Food), it operates under the Sustainability Ordinance (Biokraft-NachV) and is linked to quota accounting under the 38th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV).

Nabisy is the mandatory registry for all quota-eligible materials in the German market. Any biofuel sold for quota purposes, whether used cooking oil (UCO), tallow, SAF, or biomethane, must be recorded and verified through Nabisy.

REDCert, ISCC DE, and SURE are all approved certification systems recognized by BLE for direct use in Nabisy. ISCC EU, however, is not connected to Nabisy.

What Makes REDCert Ideal for the German Quota Market

REDCert was designed specifically for Nabisy and Germany’s national quota system. That means:

• Supplier Declaration (SD) formats follow Nabisy’s XML schema and field structure
• Quota tracking aligns with Nabisy’s rules (for example, Annex IX A/B eligibility and reporting cycles)
• German-language audit records and templates are standardized for BLE reviews
• BLE grants Nabisy upload access to certified operators once REDCert verification is complete

For domestic collectors, biodiesel plants, and traders selling within Germany, REDCert remains the most streamlined and compliant option.

SAF Producers: Special Considerations

If you are producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Germany and want it to count toward national emission reduction quotas, REDCert can cover those volumes, provided the feedstock and production pathway are approved in Nabisy’s Biojet module.

CORSIA-based SAF reporting for international airlines requires ISCC CORSIA certification aligned with ICAO rules.
However, German quota-eligible SAF must still be documented under REDCert and uploaded to Nabisy for national crediting.

In other words, SAF produced in Germany may need dual certification if it serves both domestic (quota) and international (CORSIA) markets.

What Can Go Wrong

Nabisy-linked REDCert audits can go sideways for reasons that seem minor but result in rejected or delayed quota claims:

• SDs with improper XML formatting
• Batch-level inconsistencies between mass balance logs and SDs
• Using ISCC EU PoS templates for Nabisy-linked buyers
• Missing German language requirements on audit documentation
• Double-counting risks between Nabisy and UDB submissions

These aren’t software glitches. They are structural mismatches, and they can trip up even experienced compliance teams.

BLE also cross-checks Nabisy entries against audit summaries, so mismatched totals between SDs and ledger data often trigger follow-up requests.

Best Practices for REDCert and Nabisy Workflows

✅ Stick to REDCert SD Templates
Do not mix ISCC PoS formats. Nabisy XML files expect specific field tags and values.

✅ Maintain Batch-Level Mass Balance
Nabisy validates sustainability claims per batch. Your internal ledger must reflect the same granularity.

✅ Check Expiry Dates on Supplier Certificates
Nabisy validations fail automatically if upstream supplier SDs or certificates are out of date.

✅ Use German Audit Language Where Required
BLE expects German documentation for REDCert-DE certificates. For REDCert-EU, English is generally accepted.

✅ Segregate REDCert and ISCC EU Ledgers
If you hold both certifications, never reuse SDs or volume declarations across systems. Keep your domestic and EU audit trails separate.

Final Thought

For companies operating within Germany, especially collectors, biofuel traders, and SAF producers, REDCert and Nabisy remain the gold standard for national quota compliance.

But getting it right requires more than just holding a valid certificate.
You need structured SDs, aligned mass balance records, and a clear separation between national (Nabisy) and EU (UDB) data pathways.

Whether you are preparing for your next REDCert audit or scaling SAF production in Germany, fluency in Nabisy logic is no longer optional.