What is the SAF Mandate?
The SAF Mandate is the UK’s key policy mechanism to secure demand for SAF. It delivers greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings by encouraging the supply of SAF within the aviation industry. It does this by setting a legal obligation on jet fuel suppliers in the UK to supply an increasing proportion of SAF over time.
Suppliers will receive certificates for the SAF they supply, and the number of certificates they receive will be issued in proportion to the level of GHG emission reductions that fuel delivered. That is, the greater the savings, the greater number of certificates they will receive.
The SAF Mandate could deliver up to 6.3 megatonnes of carbon savings per year by 2040.
Find out more about it below.
The UK’s SAF Mandate
- The SAF Mandate: an essential guide
A quick read for an overview of the SAF Mandate including how it works in practice, its administration and enforcement and the kinds of fuels obligated under the SAF Mandate. - SAF Mandate Compliance Guidance
Detailed information on how to comply with the SAF Mandate, including practical instructions on how to submit the required information to the Administrator for the 2025 obligation period.
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme
The SAF Mandate and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) are part of the government’s strategy on low carbon fuel. Read more about the RTFO below:
- RTFO compliance guidance 2025
This guidance provides information on compliance with the RTFO including: applying for and maintaining an account with the RTFO Administrator; the obligations that the RTFO puts on certain fuel suppliers and how it is met; and applying for renewable transport fuel certificates. - RTFO and SAF Mandate technical information
DfT guidance which provides technical information to enable compliance with the RTFO and SAF Mandate, including: classifying eligible fuels; demonstrating compliance with the carbon and sustainability requirements; and mass balance rules. - RTFO and SAF Mandate third party assurance
To provide assurance of compliance with the requirements of the RTFO and SAF Mandate, obligated parties must appoint independent verifiers to provide assurance on the accuracy of data submitted to the Administrator. This guidance explains what obligated parties need to do to meet assurance standards to demonstrate compliance.
Low carbon fuels
- Low carbon fuels in transport
Read about low carbon fuels, which are an important part of the UK’s transport decarbonisation strategy, and find links to DfT’s low carbon fuels mailing list, support schemes, statistics and more.