Ukraine is preparing for a major reform of bioethanol gasoline regulations and the transition to European fuel quality standards. The Ministry of Economy announced plans to introduce updated technical regulations, modernize fuel quality control systems, and implement European standards EN 228 and EN 590. One of the symbolic changes will be the gradual phase-out of Soviet-era gasoline labels such as A-80 and A-92.
According to Deputy Minister Taras Vysotskyi, the reform is not limited to mandatory bioethanol blending in gasoline. Ukraine also plans to establish a comprehensive quality control system by updating laboratory testing methods, fuel verification procedures, and state supervision mechanisms. Special attention is being given to fuels containing higher alcohol concentrations ranging from 10% to 50%.
The reform is part of Ukraine’s European integration commitments under the RED-II and RED-III directives regulating renewable energy use in transportation. Starting from July 2026, the minimum required bioethanol share in gasoline could increase to 7%, while EU countries have already widely adopted the E10 standard containing 10% bioethanol.
Experts believe the updated regulations could stimulate domestic bioethanol production and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. At the same time, the market still faces several challenges, including modernization of fuel storage infrastructure, preparation of testing laboratories, and risks related to poor-quality fuel blending. Analysts note that successful implementation of the reform would become an important step toward modernizing Ukraine’s fuel market and aligning it with European environmental standards.