Jurisdiction: UK
Commencement: 12th August 2021
Amends:
- The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999
- The Biofuel (Labelling) Regulations 2004
- Revokes: The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) and the Biofuel (Labelling) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999 implement Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels.
They apply to all motor fuels including:
-
- petrol;
- diesel fuel;
- gas oil; and
- any other liquid fuel.
There are duties for anyone that distributes motor fuel, or sells motor fuel at a filling station or directly to a person for use by that person.
The Biofuel (Labelling) Regulations 2004 require filling station pumps to be clearly labelled when the motor fuel they are dispensing contains biofuels. This is in place to avoid consumers filling their vehicles with fuel that may be unsuitable.
REVOKED: The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) and the Biofuel (Labelling) (Amendment) – From 1st September 2021, petrol stations in Great Britain are required to only sell 95 octane premium petrol that meets an E10 grade specification. An E10 grade means that the petrol contains an ethanol content of between 5.5% and 10%. The requirements are being introduced as no major supplier has unilaterally chosen to make the move to E10 grade fuel despite it being approved for sale since 2011. The use of E10 grade fuel is seen as a tool to help meet climate change targets as petrol with higher ethanol content produces less overall carbon dioxide emissions.
While E10 grade petrol is useable by most modern petrol powered vehicles, some older vehicles are not approved for its use. Requirements are therefore introduced for super grade higher octane petrol to remain at an E5 grade, meaning it can have no more than 5% ethanol or 2.7% oxygen.
This The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) and the Biofuel (Labelling) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 enforces the requirement for petrol stations in Great Britain to only sell 95 octane premium petrol with a minimum ethanol content of 5.5% by volume. It also ensures the continuing availability of E5 petrol (petrol with 5% or less ethanol) for older vehicles and certain petrol-powered equipment that are unsuitable for E10 petrol*
*E10 petrol means that it contains more than 5% of ethanol.
Regulation 6 permits the sale of 95 octane premium petrol that does not have the minimum ethanol content, providing that it reaches the necessary winter petrol requirements from the period between 1st September 2021 and 1st November 2021. The winter petrol requirements are outlined in Part 2 of The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999.
Furthermore, following the EU exit, the definition of motor fuel specifications (diesel fuel, leaded petrol, petrol) are updated.
The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) and the Biofuel (Labelling) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 are revoked.
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