Commission proposes one-year delay of methane rules for importers

Covers importers' monitoring, reporting and verification obligations and the reporting on methane intensity; Parliament and Council must still agree. The aim is to ease the burden on industry and administrations and protect the supply of fossil fuels in the tense situation

The Commission has proposed a targeted amendment of the 2024 Methane Regulation that postpones specific importer obligations by one year. It cites high energy prices and possible reduced availability of gas and oil because of the conflict in the Middle East, adding that the Regulation's ambition, integrity and scope remain unchanged. The European Parliament and Council are to consider it next (European Commission, 14 Oct 2026). Update (22.10.2026): The European Parliament votes 341 to 225 with 6 abstentions for a three-year rather than one-year delay: importers would have until 31 May 2031 to show that their supply contracts meet equivalent monitoring and reporting standards, and the first methane-intensity reporting duty moves to 5 August 2031. Talks with the Council are needed before adoption (La Repubblica, 22 Oct 2026).