Government increases biofuel blending in road diesel to 10%

Decree-Law no. 188/2026, published in the Diário da República of September 21, 2026 (1st series, no. 183), increases the maximum limit for the incorporation of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in diesel from 7% to 10%. The diploma from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers partially transposes Directive (EU) 2023/2413 and enters into force on October 1, 2026.

The decree-law carries out the fourth amendment to Decree-Law no. 89/2008, of May 30, already amended by Decree-Laws nos. 142/2010, 214-E/2015, and 152-C/2017, and aligns the national framework with the changes introduced by Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III) to Directive 98/70/EC. RED III eliminates the possibility for Member States to allow the placing on the market of diesel with a FAME content exceeding the new limit and repeals the emission monitoring and reporting provisions of Directive 98/70/EC and Directive (EU) 2015/652.

The preamble cites the number of vehicles incompatible with the new limit that are expected to exist in the European vehicle fleet until at least 2030. Therefore, the diploma maintains a protection obligation: suppliers must ensure the placing on the market of road diesel with a maximum FAME content of 7%.

10% Limit and Guarantee of 7% Diesel

Article 7 sets the new specifications and obliges suppliers to ensure the availability of road diesel with a maximum FAME content of 7%. Failure to comply with this obligation is now classified as an administrative offense under Article 15.

The test methods accompany the change:

EN 590:2025, for diesel with a maximum limit of 7% FAME;
EN 16734:2022, for diesel with a maximum limit of 10% FAME;
EN 14214:2014+A2:2019, with national annexes in NP EN 14214, for FAME itself.

Suppliers who, as of the date of entry into force, market biofuel-diesel blends above 10% by volume under Article 10 may continue to do so for 24 months.

Consumer Information and Labeling

Suppliers must now provide information on the biofuel content of diesel, particularly the FAME content of road diesel, with notices posted at filling stations and information on the website of the entities introducing the fuel into consumption.

Labeling must comply with the NP EN 16942 standard and its respective National Annex, with a 30-day deadline to align labeling with future changes to the standard.

Inspection and the processing of administrative offense proceedings are the responsibility of the specialized supervisory entity for the energy sector, which informs the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology of the conclusion of the proceedings and the fines applied.

Gasolines, Annexes, and Processing

The decree eliminates the mandatory availability in the market of gasoline with a maximum oxygen content of 2.7% and a maximum ethanol content of 5%, consolidating gasoline specifications in Annex III. Euro super and Super plus gasolines may continue to be marketed if they comply with the limits of the annex.

Annexes I to VI and VIII are also amended, with the introduction of two alternative quantitative methods for determining hydrogen sulfide in liquefied petroleum gases and LPG fuel, and alignment with Ordinance No. 293/2023, of October 2. References to the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology shall now be considered as references to the Geology and Energy Agency, I. P., when the latter succeeds in its duties, under the terms of Decree-Law No. 58/2026, of February 20.

The text was submitted to the procedure of Directive (EU) 2015/1535, transposed by Decree-Law No. 30/2020, of June 29. The self-governing bodies of the Autonomous Region of the Azores were heard, and hearings were promoted for those of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the National Consumer Council. The decree was approved in the Council of Ministers on July 9, 2026, promulgated on September 2 by the President of the Republic, António José Martins Seguro, and countersigned on September 4 by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.

What changes for motorists

As of October 1, diesel sold in Portugal may contain up to 10% incorporated biofuel, but stations remain obliged to make available a version with a maximum of 7% FAME, intended for older vehicles. Drivers will now be able to consult the FAME content of the fuel at the filling station and on the Internet.

Source: Diário da República, 1st series, no. 183, of September 21, 2026, Presidency of the Council of Ministers (official reference: Decree-Law No. 188/2026).