On 18 September 2017 the website www.molassesforfood.eu was launched to advocate for the removal of molasses from the Annex IX of the revised Renewable Energy Directive. EFFPA is part of a coalition of eight associations (FEFAC, CEFIC, AIBI, COFALEC, Brewers of Europe, CAOBISCO & CIUS) who have a joint concern around the inclusion of molasses as a biofuel feedstock eligible for promotion.
The website includes a joint statement from the coalition, arguing to not consider molasses a waste product due to its high value food and feed uses. For animal nutrition purposes, molasses is a highly valued energy-rich taste enhancer with pellet-binding qualities that increase the palatability and the homogeneity of feed, reducing the dusty nature of feed.
The proposal of the European Commission for a revised Renewable Energy Directive was published in November 2016, which includes molasses as a raw material for biofuel purposes that deserves stimulation. The European Parliament will vote on the dossier at committee level in October 2017, while the plenary vote is expected around January 2018.
