Certification systems ensure organizational compliance with the sustainability criteria in the bioenergy sector for the production and supply of biomass and contain specifications for the more detailed definition of the sustainability requirements, for the proof of their fulfillment and for the control of this proof. They set requirements for the implementation of the sustainability criteria. Every business or facility involved in the production and supply of biomass that complies with the ordinance must have committed itself to complying with the requirements of a recognized certification system in the bioenergy sector.
Certification systems are recognized for this purpose upon application.

The BioSt-NachV and the Biokraft-NachV serve to implement Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009, which defines the requirements for the remuneration for electricity from liquid biomass pursuant to Section 27 (1) of the Renewable Energies Act and for the crediting of the fulfillment of the statutory obligation under the Federal Immission Control Act to place a certain minimum proportion of biofuels on the market in the course of a calendar year, respectively, as well as the tax relief eligibility of biofuels under the Energy Tax Act.