Union Database (UDB) FAQs

General information

What is the Union Database (UDB)?

The Union Database (UDB) is a database pursuant to Article 28(2) and (4) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II) that aims to improve the traceability of gaseous and liquid fuels in the transport sector. The aim is to avoid double counting and to minimise the risk of irregularities and fraud.

Why was the UDB introduced?

The UDB was introduced to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), to prevent fraud and to prove the greenhouse gas reduction of fuels.

Who is obliged to use the UDB?

All actors in the supply chain, including raw material suppliers, producers of renewable liquid and gaseous fuels and recycled carbonaceous fuels, suppliers and end-users of sustainability certificates, are required to use the UDB .

What data must be recorded in the UDB?

The following information must be deposited in the UDB:

Origin and quantity of raw materials

Production processes and equipment
Sustainability Certificates
Greenhouse gas reduction values
Handover of products within the supply chain

Date of 21.11.2024

According to the clarification on the official UDB wiki, the deadline is 21.11.2024 for the UDB team to put the entire application online for gaseous fuels as well. As far as economic operators are concerned, the European Commission is trying to fill the UDB with raw material data. Therefore, there will be no immediate sanctions for economic operators immediately after 21.11.2024. The European Commission plans to agree with EU member states on a date from which use will be mandatory and from which sanctions could actually be imposed. The European Commission is in discussions with the RED Committee on these aspects and as soon as an agreement is reached, the EC will announce the date on the certification schemes accordingly. Click here for clarification

Technical aspects and use of the UDB

How does the UDB work?

The UDB collects and tracks data along the entire supply chain from liquid or gaseous renewable fuel or recycled carbon fuel to ensure transparency and traceability.

What data must be entered into the UDB?

Data on the quantities and qualities of raw materials, intermediate products and end products as well as information on the actors involved must be entered. For more information, please refer to Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996.

How is data security ensured in the UDB?

The UDB uses modern security protocols and encryption techniques to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the data.

Are there interfaces between the UDB and the REDcert database?

Yes, the UDB offers interfaces to other systems to enable seamless integration. The REDcert database transmits all relevant information to the UDB via such an interface.

Who is responsible for reporting technical defects?

REDcert is not responsible for technical defects. These should be reported directly to the UDB support team .

What is the EU Login Account?

The EU Account, also known as the EU Login, is an authentication service provided by the European Commission. It serves as a central access point for the authentication of users to a wide range of Commission information systems. With an EU Login account, users can verify their identity and securely access various services and systems of the European Commission. An EU Login account is required to access the UDB. It uses 2-factor authentication for security purposes.

What is the difference between the EU Login and the UDB?

The EU Login is an authentication service provided by the European Commission. It serves as a central access point for the authentication of users to a wide range of Commission information systems. With an EU Login account, users can verify their identity and securely access various services and systems of the European Commission (e.g. the UDB). The EU Login is required when registering in the UDB.

Registration and access

How do I register and access the UDB?

Registration in the UDB should only be done via the link in the invitation e-mail. Please do not register separately or independently, otherwise there will be no assignment to REDcert in the system. Follow the instructions in the email to register successfully. If you have already registered independently, please send an email with a screenshot of your UDB profile and your REDcert ID to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To ensure security and privacy when logging in and registering UDB, we strongly recommend that you follow these steps:

Be sure to use a personal email address for your personal EU account.

Avoid using generic email addresses such as This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Ideally, you should use your business, personalized email address (e.g., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
If you don't have a personalized business email, you can also use a private email address that can be uniquely assigned to you.

These measures are designed to:

Ensure that the EU account is associated with a specific person
Prevent unauthorized access to sensitive company data
To ensure the traceability of actions in the UDB
Comply with EU data protection directives and security standards

Please note that using a personal email address is an important step in protecting the security of your company and your data in the UDB.

What should I do if I have not received an invitation link to the UDB?

Check your spam folder and whitelist the sender address. If you still haven't received a link, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. with the subject "Invitation link" and your REDcert ID. Since your company information in the UDB comes directly from the REDcert database, you should make sure that your data in our database is up to date. For security reasons, the invitation e-mail will only be sent to the first contact person who is stored in the REDcert database. Therefore, the EU Login account must also match this email.

Who will receive the UDB invitation link?

The invitation link will be sent to the email address of the first contact person registered in the REDcert database for your company. Please note that these emails will come from the @ec.europa.eu domain .

What steps should I take if I can't get access to the UDB despite having the correct login credentials?

Check your internet connection, clear cache and cookies in your browser, and make sure you're using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

If your company profile still does not appear on the UDB, please follow these steps:

Log-in verification: Make sure you have registered with the UDB using the link provided by REDcert. If you have registered without the link from REDcert and a new profile has been created, some data may not be displayed correctly.

Required information: In order to associate your profile with your company, we need the following information by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.with the subject "Self-registration":
- NTR ID (unique company identifier): usually VAT ID (alternatively: commercial register number | Tax ID for individuals | IACS No.)
- REDcert Participant Number
- It is best to take a screenshot of your company profile in the UDB
We will forward this to the responsible team. Your created company profile will be deleted and your account will be linked to the company created by REDcert.

How can I make sure my login details are correct?

Make sure that your email address and other registration details have been entered correctly. Also, check that your EU Login account is verified.

What should I do if I have problems logging in to the UDB?

Check your internet connection, clear cache and cookies in your browser, and make sure you're using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. If the problem persists, contact the UDB support team.

How do I get to the UDB?

Open the following URL in your browser: Union Database - Live Version Union Database - Trial Version
Enter your login details [EU Login] carefully. Make sure that the username and password are correct and do not contain any typos.
Here is a more detailed step-by-step guideto accessing the UDB

Setup

What is the initial inventory and when do I need to record it?

The opening stock is your existing stock on a selected key date. You must enter this in the UDB if you want to start using the system. If you do not have any starting stock due to a trader activity or comparable activity, a zero would have to be entered here or, if necessary, no notification would be required.

What are reference contacts and why do I need to create them?

Reference contacts are producers or suppliers from whom you receive biomass. Initial collectors and collectors must create these in order to record goods movements in the UDB.

How do I create reference contacts?

Use the Reference Contacts feature in the UDB to add your suppliers. You can also use a bulk upload template for multiple entries.

What are procurement sources and why do I need to create them?

Sources of procurement are agricultural producers or producers of waste and residues from which you (initial collector of agricultural products or collector of waste and residues) receive biomass. Initial entrants and collectors must create the procurement sources in order to record goods movements in the UDB or to post them to your UDB account.

How do I create procurement sources?

Use the Manage Procurement Contact Persons feature in the UDB to add your growers or originators. You can also use a bulk upload template for multiple entries.

Create buyers and sourcing sources

How do I create buyers in the UDB?

There are step-by-step instructions on how to create buyers in the UDB. This describes how to log in to the UDB account, add buyers manually or via collective Excel file and fill in the table with the buyers.

What information do I need to create buyers in the UDB?

You will need the unique company identifier (NTR ID or VAT ID) and the buyer's full company name. This information can be added manually or via bulk Excel file. Please communicate with your buyers and make sure that the UDB accounts have been created correctly.

How do I create procurement sources in the UDB?

In the step-by-step guide to creating procurement sources. You can either add individual farms manually or upload multiple farms via an Excel spreadsheet.

What information do I need to create procurement sources in the UDB?

You need the unique identification of the farms, such as VAT ID, tax ID, IACS number (depending on the federal state, the term varies: also known as farm number or registration number, through which the agricultural application is submitted). The required format for German companies in the UDB is: DE_IACS_CD276 followed by 12 numbers. This information can be added manually or via bulk Excel file.

Transactions and Mass Balance

How can I make sure that my transactions are correctly stored in the UDB?

Transactions can be stored in the UDB manually, via bulk upload or via eDelivery . Make sure that the company's unique business identification (usually VAT ID) is correct and that your buyers have been created beforehand.

How often do I need to update the UDB with transactions?

Transactions should be recorded in the UDB in a timely manner. There is currently no exact definition of this. However, transactions should only be recorded in the UDB when invoicing has been carried out in order to avoid unnecessary correction postings or the like.

Certificates and Compliance

How are certificates linked to transactions in the UDB?

Each transaction from a specific location should be linked to the respective valid certificate. This is done automatically via the interface of the REDcert database.

Can I have multiple certificates for an organization in the UDB?

Yes, multiple certificates (from the same or from different voluntary schemes) can be linked to the same organisation.

Technical aspects

Can I connect my internal IT system to the UDB?

Yes, it is possible to connect internal IT systems to the UDB.

In which language is the UDB available?

The UDB interface is available in multiple languages. However, some of the translations are not yet complete.

Who should I contact if I have technical problems with the UDB?

In case of technical problems, please contact the UDB support team directly.

Support and contact information

What should I do if I have not received an invitation link to the UDB?

How can I make sure my login details are correct?

Make sure that your email address and other registration details have been entered correctly. Also, check that your EU Login account is verified.

How can I contact the UDB support team?

Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and add This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to CC.

In your support email, you should include the following information:

Description of the problem: Briefly explain what exactly is not working.

Information about the company incl. unique company identifier (NTR ID) or VAT ID and REDcert ID (for further inquiries)
Error message: If you receive an error message/screenshot, include it in your message.
Browser and version: Specify which browser and version you are using.