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Global SAF Mandates and Emerging Policies: What Fuel Suppliers Need to Prove
National Rules Driving Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption
Governments are introducing national blending mandates that require a growing percentage of SAF to be mixed with conventional jet fuel. These policies create guaranteed demand, incentivise production, and set the framework for aviation’s net-zero targets.
The first mandates appeared in Europe, but Asia and the Americas are now following with their own frameworks. Even countries without binding targets are setting clear policy signals through incentives or credit systems.
For SAF producers, suppliers, and airlines, this means navigating a patchwork of rules, timelines, and reporting systems. The table below highlights some of the most important national-level SAF blending mandates and emerging frameworks around the world.
SAF policy at a glance
Country or region | Current status | Key requirement or target | Compliance model |
Binding mandate | 2% SAF from 2025, 6% in 2030, 20% in 2035, 34% in 2040 and 70% in 2050. | Supplier obligation, SAF reporting, synthetic aviation fuel sub targets and penalties. | |
Binding mandate | 2% in 2025, 3.6% in 2026, 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040. | Supplier obligation, certificates, buy out mechanism, PtL obligation and HEFA cap. | |
Binding SAF target from 2027 | 1% from 2027, with a target of 3% to 5% by 2030 depending on market conditions. | SAF levy used to purchase SAF under a fixed cost envelope. | |
Supply target and policy framework | Japan has a 2030 target to replace 10% of aviation fuel used by Japanese airlines with SAF, while supply side regulation and implementation details are still developing. | Supply side regulation and investment support. | |
Binding mandate announced | 1% SAF blend for international flights departing Korea from 2027, with later increase expected. | Mandate for international departures. | |
Indicative blending targets | 1% in 2027, 2% in 2028 and 5% in 2030, initially for international flights. | ATF regulatory update to enable SAF blended fuel. | |
China | SAF consumption target | 50,000 tonnes cumulative SAF consumption by 2025. | Policy target, no confirmed 2030 blend mandate in official public source |
Australia | No binding SAF blend mandate | Low carbon liquid fuel policy development, SAF funding and Guarantee of Origin expansion. | Incentives, consultation and certification infrastructure. |
Canada | Federal incentive framework, provincial mandate in British Columbia | Canada has a federal aviation climate action plan. British Columbia requires renewable jet fuel volumes from 2028. | Clean fuel credits federally, provincial low carbon fuel standard in British Columbia. |
Brazil | Emissions based requirement | ProBioQAV requires aviation GHG reductions from 2027, increasing to 10% by 2037. | Domestic aviation emissions reduction framework. |
United States | Incentive led, no federal SAF blend mandate | Clean fuel production credit applies from 2025 to 2029. | Production tax credit and state level low carbon fuel policies. |
United Arab Emirates | Voluntary target and production roadmap | 700 million litres annual SAF production capacity by 2030 and at least 1% voluntary target for UAE airlines by 2031. | Production, use and monitoring framework. |
Europe: The Policy Benchmark
Europe remains the reference point for SAF regulation, setting the standard for binding quotas and synthetic fuel sub-mandates.
European Union – ReFuelEU Aviation Becomes Law
The EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation is the most comprehensive SAF blending mandate globally.
Starts at 2% in 2025, reaching 6% in 2030, 34% in 2040, and 70% by 2050.
Includes a synthetic SAF sub-mandate: 1.2% e-fuels by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050.
Obligations are placed on fuel suppliers at each airport.
Penalties apply for shortfalls, which must be compensated in the next reporting year. There is no buy-out option.
Airlines must also uplift 90% of fuel at EU airports under scope, preventing tankering.
This locks in long-term demand and catalyses investment in e-fuel capacity.
United Kingdom – Ambitious Targets with Market Flexibility
The UK’s mandate mirrors the EU’s start date but sets higher 2030 targets with more flexibility.
2% SAF in 2025, rising to 10% by 2030.
0.5% of the total jet fuel pool must be Power-to-Liquid SAF by 2030.
HEFA contribution is capped over time to push advanced pathways.
Enforcement uses a certificate trading and buy-out system: suppliers can pay a per-litre fee for shortfalls.
The government is exploring revenue-support mechanisms to bridge the SAF price gap.
Ambitious targets plus flexibility are designed to build domestic SAF supply while keeping compliance viable.
Asia-Pacific: Regulation Meets Acceleration
Asia-Pacific is rapidly moving from feasibility to regulation, with Singapore and Japan taking the lead and others testing policy pathways.
Singapore – Asia’s First National SAF Mandate (2026)
Singapore is becoming a regional leader in SAF adoption. The country hosts major SAF production facilities (such as Neste’s refinery) and is implementing the first mandatory SAF blend in Asia, starting in 2027.
1% SAF blending requirements for all flights refuelling in Singapore, increasing to 3–5% by 2030 depending on global supply.
Any certified SAF pathway counts (no separate synthetic sub-quota).
SAF levy on uplifted fuel funds central procurement of SAF and/or SAF certificates.
The levy effectively functions as a built-in backstop if physical uptake lags.
A pragmatic model to stimulate demand without overburdening airlines early.
Japan – National Framework Targeting 10% SAF by 2030
Japan is finalising a national framework targeting 10% SAF by 2030 for all flights departing the country.
Policy design indicates qualifying SAF must achieve ~50% lifecycle GHG reduction.
No dedicated synthetic sub-quota announced.
Enforcement and reporting details under development; scope expected to cover domestic and international departures.
One of Asia’s most ambitious targets; authorities are preparing supply via domestic projects and imports.
Australia
Australia does not currently have a binding SAF blend mandate. However, Australia is moving on the enabling infrastructure around low carbon liquid fuels. The Australian Government has committed funding for SAF development, is developing low carbon liquid fuel policy, and is expanding the Guarantee of Origin scheme to low carbon liquid fuels.
Aditional Emerging Asia-Pacific Policies – Early Market Signals
Country | Mandate / Target | Timeline | Policy Status | Notes |
1% by 2027 → 2.5% by 2030 SAF blend | 2027 → 2030 | Proposed / roadmap adopted | National SAF roadmap sets phased blending goals; implementation details pending. | |
1% by 2027 → 47% by 2025 SAF blend | 2027 → 2050 | Consultation stage | SAF mandate framework under stakeholder consultation; scaling tied to domestic biofuel roadmap. More on Malaysia's climate commitments. | |
1% by 2026, 1–2% by 2030, 8% by 2036. | 2026 → 2036 | Non-binding targets | Early targets supported by investment incentives for SAF projects. | |
— | — | Roadmap under development | SAF policy framework and feedstock studies underway. | |
— | — | Exploratory stage | No SAF mandate yet; early policy discussions ongoing. |
The Americas: Mandates, Incentives, and Emissions Targets
Across the Americas, SAF policy ranges from credit-based incentives to emissions-reduction mandates, combining federal and regional systems.
Canada – Hybrid System with Provincial Enforcement
Canada has no federal SAF mandate yet but has aspirational use goal of 10% SAF by 2030.
SAF use generates credits under the Clean Fuel Regulations, creating an incentive without a legal obligation.
British Columbia has the continent’s first provincial SAF rule:
1% SAF by 2028
3% SAF by 2030
Enforced under the provincial LCFS with credit and penalty mechanisms.
This hybrid approach combines federal incentives with provincial mandates.
Brazil – Emissions-Based SAF Rules (Book-and-Claim Eligible)
Under ProBioQAV, Brazil’s aviation policy uses emissions reduction targets for domestic flights. The programme starts at 1% in 2027 and increases to 10% by 2037. These reductions can be met through SAF, but the rule is framed around emissions reduction rather than a fixed fuel blend percentage.
Law enacted 2024 sets aviation GHG reductions of 1% (2027) → 3% (2030) → 10% (2037).
Allows Book-and-Claim compliance credits.
Implementation rules rolling out through 2025.
Chile – SAF Roadmap Built on Green Hydrogen Potential
National roadmap targets 50% SAF by 2050.
Policy focus on PtL production from domestic renewable hydrogen.
United States – Incentive-Led Growth Without a Federal Mandate
The clean fuel production credit under section 45Z now applies to qualifying clean transportation fuel produced domestically and sold between 2025 and 2029.
The US model rewards eligible production rather than requiring a national blend. For producers, that still creates an evidence burden: domestic production, lifecycle emissions, eligible feedstocks, registration and credit documentation.
Federal goal of 10% SAF by 2030 remains voluntary.
Middle East and other emerging frameworks
Middle Eastern economies are exploring early pilots and voluntary SAF initiatives, while emerging markets are shaping regional supply capacity.
The United Arab Emirates has a national SAF policy with a target to reach 700 million litres of annual SAF production capacity by 2030. It also sets a voluntary goal for at least 1% of total fuel supplied at UAE airports for UAE airlines by 2031, sourced from domestically produced SAF.
Turkey has moved into a more formal SAF framework for international flights. Under Türkiye’s SHT-SAF Directive, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation publishes the minimum annual CO₂ emissions reduction per litre that must be achieved through SAF blended fuel. The first target applies from 2026, with annual targets expected to increase towards ICAO’s 2030 objective for international aviation.
This makes Turkey’s model different from volumetric SAF mandates in the EU, UK or Singapore. The required SAF blend depends on the lifecycle emissions value of the SAF used. A fuel with a lower lifecycle emissions value can achieve the same reduction with a lower blend ratio, while SAF with a higher lifecycle emissions value may require a higher blend.
Turkey’s directive requires SAF to comply with ICAO CORSIA sustainability standards and requirements. This places more emphasis on lifecycle emissions data, sustainability certification and evidence that the fuel meets recognised eligibility criteria.
This is where policy design gets more interesting. A fixed blend percentage is simple to communicate, but emissions based systems make data quality more important. They require reliable lifecycle emissions values, eligible feedstock records and consistent certification.
Operational Implications Across the SAF Supply Chain
Farms and waste aggregators must prioritise aligning with sustainability criteria and maintain appropriate documentation pertaining to the feedstocks.
Processing facilities must focus on feedstock sourcing, voluntary certification, and process emissions accounting at once.
Traders, distributors and storage facilities need systems that trace batches with chain of custody, manage documentation, and verify sustainability claims across markets.
Synthetic sub-targets in regions like the EU and UK are accelerating investment in e-fuel capacity, while Asia’s flexible policies are opening early trading and feedstock offtake opportunities.
Figure 1: How SAF Sustainability is Verified: Mass Balance and Book and Claim Models
Build a Compliant SAF Strategy
Fuel Central helps feedstock producers, processing facilities and distributors integrate SAF requirements into their end-to-end value chains.
We support:
End-to-end chain of custody tracking across supply chains and operators.
Digital book-and-claim functionality for attribute-based offtakes.
Automated compliance reporting across regions.
With emerging regulations and rising global demand for sustainability in the aviation sector, SAF mandates are turning traceability into a mandatory requirement. Fuel Central gives you the digital infrastructure to manage compliance and open new markets.
Book a demo to see how to integrate traceability across your SAF operations.
Source & Legal Footnote Appendix
Primary Source / Government / Legislative Document | Notes & URLs |
Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 “ReFuelEU Aviation” | EU Official Journal. (EUR-Lex) |
ReFuelEU regulation & Commission materials | ReFuelEU Handbook. (IATA) |
ReFuelEU Regulation Article 4, Article 5; EU FAQ | The regulation prohibits paying a fee instead of compliance. (European Transport) |
ReFuelEU Regulation; EU FAQ | Prevents airlines avoiding SAF via tankering. (European Transport) |
UK Compliance Guidance, “The SAF Mandate: an essential guide” | Government guidance document. (GOV.UK) |
Legislative Order / SAF Mandate rules & policy documents | Set in the draft legislation under the UK SAF mandate. (Legislation.gov.uk) |
Government announcements / policy briefings | RCM draft-legislation proposed in May 2025. (Clifford Chance) |
CAAS documents; press releases | Confirmed in the Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint and local press. (S&P Global) |
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