Biomass　gasification　is　one　of　the　most　important　technologies　for　the　conversion　of　biomass　to　electricity,　fuels,　and　chemicals.　The　main　obstacle　preventing　the　commercial　application　of　this　technology　is　the　presence　of　tar　in　the　product　gas.　Catalytic　reforming　of　tar　appears　a　promising　approach　to　remove　tar　and　supported　metal　catalysts　are　among　the　most　effective　catalysts.　Nevertheless,　improvement　of　catalytic　performances　including　activity,　stability,　resistance　to　coke　deposition　and　aggregation　of　metal　particles,　as　well　as　catalyst　regenerability　is　greatly　needed.　This　review　focuses　on　the　design　and　catalysis　of　supported　metal　catalysts　for　the　removal　of　tar　in　the　gasification　of　biomass.　The　recent　development　of　metal　catalysts　including　Rh,　Ni,　Co,　and　their　alloys　for　steam　reforming　of　biomass　tar　and　tar　model　compounds　is　introduced.　The　role　of　metal　species,　support　materials,　promoters,　and　their　interfaces　is　described.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.