Joco Today

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Joni Ernst have expressed concerns regarding the oversight of used cooking oil (UCO) imports by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They argue that proper regulation is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and supporting domestic agricultural markets, particularly soybeans.

In a letter to the EPA, Senator Marshall highlighted the substantial importation of UCO, which has reached 3.2 billion pounds in 2024 according to U.S. Census Bureau data. This volume could potentially replace approximately 270 million bushels of soybeans, impacting states such as Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, and Ohio.

"Without a robust verification process," wrote the Senators, "the credibility of the RFS is at risk, and American farmers are likely missing out on key market opportunities." They emphasized their concerns about verifying imported UCO's authenticity as a product qualifying for RFS standards.

Despite reaching out to the EPA regarding this issue and its impact on domestic crop demand, Senator Marshall has not received a response from the agency. The responsibility for ensuring UCO authenticity appears to be delegated to other federal entities like U.S. Customs and Border Protection. However, Customs has indicated they do not verify imported UCO as pure or authentic under current guidelines.

Senator Marshall continues advocating for regulations that prioritize American agriculture. In September, he introduced legislation known as the Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act aimed at limiting renewable fuel tax credits to those using domestically sourced feedstocks starting January 1st, 2025.

Since August 2023, monthly imports of UCO from countries including China have averaged over half a billion pounds. This influx contributes to reduced prices for American soybeans and corn—resulting in an estimated loss of $5.4 billion in production value for soybean farmers alone.