Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland

Commencement: 31st October 2022

Amends:

Mini Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency Act (Registration of Coal Bagging Operators and Solid Fuel Suppliers) Regulations 2012 set out the functions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in relation to maintaining registers of coal bagging operators and solid fuel suppliers for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the environmental parameters for bituminous coal set out in the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012.

Amendment

The remaining provisions of the Environmental Protection Agency Act (Registration of Coal Bagging Operators and Solid Fuel Suppliers) Regulations 2012  are revoked.

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Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland

Commencement: 31st October 2022

Amends: New Legislation
Mini Summary

The Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 set out restrictions on the sale and distribution of solid fuels intended to heat domestic and licensed properties. These Regulations impose duties on producers and retailers of solid fuels. Furthermore, the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012  are revoked.

Summary

These Regulations set out restrictions on the sale and distribution of solid fuels* and impose duties on producers and retailers of solid fuels.

*Solid fuels are solid substances, such as wood or coal, that are burned to produce heat.

These Regulations apply only to solid fuels intended to heat domestic or licensed premises.

Additionally, these Regulations revoke the  Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012  and some corresponding amendments, such as the:

Duties

Various duties apply.

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Jurisdiction: UK

Commencement: 12th August 2021

Amends:

Mini Summary
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:

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.

 
Amendment

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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Jurisdiction: UK

Commencement: 31st December 2020

Amends: Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007
Mini Summary
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 requires transport fuel suppliers, who supply relevant hydrocarbon oil in the United Kingdom, to produce evidence that a certain amount of renewable transport fuel has been supplied.

 
Amendment
The calculation used to determine the amount that a supplier must pay to discharge any shortfall in their renewable transport fuel obligation has been changed, with the effect of increasing the cost of discharging shortfalls. The multiplier applied to any shortfall in a suppliers main renewable transport fuel obligation is increased from 30 pence to 50 pence for obligation periods beginning on or after 1st January 2021.

 

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Jurisdiction: England

Commencement: Regulations 5 and 11 – 7th October 2020. The rest of the Regulations come into force 1st May 2021
Mini Summary
The supply of bituminous coal and wet wood as solid fuels for use in domestic premises is phased out. Smoke emission limits for manufactured solid fuels are introduced. There are duties for anyone supplying these fuels for use in domestic premises.  
Summary
These Regulations restrict the supply of some solid fuels with the aim of improving air quality. In particular, they aim to reduce the PM2.5 emissions which are tiny particles in smoke that can cause long term health problems for humans. Domestic burning of wood and coal is a major source of these emissions, therefore the following steps are taken in this legislation: 

This only applies to fuel supplied for combustion in domestic premises.  

Unless otherwise stated in the duties section, these Regulations apply from 1st May 2021.  
Approved wood certification body 
At least one approved wood certification body will be appointed by the Secretary of State for this legislation. This body has not yet been appointed.  

Wood certification bodies must test samples of wood they receive accompanying an application in line with standards ISO 18134-1 or ISO 18134-2, referred to in the firewood fuel specification BS EN ISO 17225-5. 

Certificates should be issued where the test finds the wood’s moisture content is less than the prohibited level. 
Approved manufactured solid fuel certification body 
At least one approved manufactured solid fuel certification body will be appointed by the Secretary of State for this legislation. This body has not yet been appointed.  

Manufactured solid fuel certification bodies must determine if the analyst met the required standards when determining if the fuel did not have any of the prohibited characteristics and if so, issue a certificate for the fuel.  

The standards that must be used are: 

Logo in Schedule 1 
Where the duties refer to the logo in Schedule 1, this is the ‘ready to burn’ logo as follows.  

Schedule 1 logo

 
Duties
Supplying wood for combustion 
Supply of volumes less than 2 cubic metres 

Anyone supplying wood in volumes of less than 2 cubic metres for combustion in a domestic premises must: 

*Authorised wood is wood for which a certificate has been issued by an approved wood certification  body 

Small foresters that only supply less than 600 cubic metres of wood in the one year period ending 30th April 2021 are not required to comply with this until 1st May 2022. 

 

Obtaining certification 

The first person in the chain of supply that intends to supply wood in volumes of less than 2 cubic metres for combustion in a domestic premises must apply for a certificate to an approved wood certification body. The application must include a sample of the wood.  

The sample of wood must have the same characteristics as the unit of wood to which it relates. 

 

Supply of volumes more than 2 cubic meters 

Anyone supplying wood in volumes 2 cubic metres or more, comprising of one or more pieces of wood, for combustion in a domestic premises must ensure the wood is accompanied by a notice with the words in Schedule 2 as follows: 

“This wood is not suitable for burning until it has been dried. You should not burn wood until it has a moisture content of 20% or less. 

Wet wood contains moisture which creates smoke and harmful particulates when burnt. As well as being harmful to your health and the environment, this can damage your stove and chimney and is an inefficient way to heat your home. Dry it in a sunny, well-aired space for at least two years, keeping rain off in the winter. 

Radial cracks and bark that comes off easily suggests wood that is ready for burning. Test the wood when you think it is ready for burning, ideally with a moisture meter. First calibrate the meter and then measure a freshly split surface to get the best reading. 
Supply of manufactured solid fuels 
Manufactured solid fuel is a fuel manufactured from coal, wood, plant-derived materials, waxes or petroleum products with other ingredients, for the purposes of combustion in domestic premises. 

Manufactured solid fuel must not be supplied unless it in on the authorised list. The Secretary of State is required to make this list but one is not yet available.  

A supply of manufactured solid fuel must be accompanied by: 

 

Obtaining certification 

Manufacturers of manufactured solid fuels that intend to supply such fuels in England must obtain a certificate from an approved manufactured solid fuel certification body. The application must be accompanied by analytical results showing that the fuel does not have the prohibited characteristics.  

 Prohibited characteristics are: 

 

Smoke control areas 

Manufactured solid fuels that are on the list of fuels allowed to be burned in smoke control areas under Part 3 of the Clean Air Act 1993 on 1st May 2021 will continue to be allowed for use as long as they remain on that list. Manufacturers of such fuels may use the logo the ‘ready to burn’ logo in Schedule 1 when supplying such fuels 
Coal 
This section applies to bituminous coal, which is coal falling within CN code 2701 12 that is placed on the market for combustion in domestic premisesIt does not apply to bituminous coal extracted in accordance withthe Dean Forest (Mines) Act 1838 or the Dean Forest Act 1861 

Bituminous coal must not be sold regardles of being pre-packed or looseAn exemption is allowed for loose coal supplied directly to a consumer by a member of the Approved Coal Merchant Scheme until 30th April 2023.
Enforcement 
These Regulations are enforced by local authorities. Noncompliance may lead to fines and prosecution.

 

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Jurisdiction: EU

Commencement: 1 August 2020

Amends: 

  1. Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU 
  2. European Union (Labelling of Tyres) (Fuel Efficiency) Regulations 2012 

Revokes / Repeals: Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters 
Summary
These Regulations set out a framework that applies to tyres placed on the market. Tenable customers to make informed decisions about their purchase, information relating to safetyfuel-efficiencylongevity and noise levels must be provided on a label attached to the tyre.   

Tyre labels are to be formatted in accordance with Annex II and include the following information: 

These Regulations apply to C1 tyres (tyres for cars), C2 tyres (tyres for vans) and C3 tyres (tyres for heavy duty vehicles) The Regulations place duties on suppliers and distributers of the above mentioned tyre types 

 

These Regulations do not apply to: 

 

Duties

Obligations on tyre suppliers 

Suppliers* of C1, C2 and C3 tyremust ensure, free of charge, that: 

 

*A supplier is defined as: 

**Distance sales are the hire or sale of goods where the customer cannot be expected to physically see the goods displayed and includes: 

***A relevant national authority is an approval authority or other authority involved in and responsible for market surveillance, border control or registration in a Member State with respect to vehicles, systems, components, separate technical units, parts or equipment. 

 

From 1st May 2021 suppliers must submit the information in Annex VII into the product database before placing a new tyre on the market.  

 

Obligations of tyre distributors  

Distributors must ensure that: 

 

Obligations of vehicle suppliers and distributors 

When selling a new vehicle to a customer the supplier/distributor must provide the customer with the tyre label for the tyres that come with the vehicle. There is also an obligation to provide the customer with any relevant technical promotional material and to ensure that the product information sheet is available.

 
Amendments
1) Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU  

An amendment is made to include Regulation (EU) 2020/740  on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other parameters, amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 (’2020 regulations’) into article 12 to ensure the product database continues to serve its intended purpose by expanding its scope to include the 2020 Regulations.

 

2) European Union (Labelling of Tyres) (Fuel Efficiency) Regulations 2012 

These amendments repeal and replace EU Regulation 1222/2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters (‘Regulation 1222/2009’) with effect from 1st May 2021.

 

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Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland

Commencement: 1 September 2020

Amends: Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012
Mini Summary
The Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 introduces a ban on the residential burning of specified bituminous fuels in private dwelling in specified areas to complement the existing ban on the marketing, sale and distribution.

 
Amendment
ThAir Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 ban the burning and sale of specified fuels in certain areas of the Republic of Ireland. Specified fuels are defined as any bituminous coalany admixture of solid fuel containing bituminous coal, any manufactured fuel containing bituminous coal meeting a certain specification oany solid fuel with Sulphur content greater than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis. 

These Regulations introduce a ban, from the 1st September 2020, on the marketing, sale, distribution and burning of specified fuels in specified areas of the following locations:  

They also extend the specified area of Cork to include further townlands within Carrigtwohill 

Further details on the townlands now considered to be specified areas can be found in the amendment.

 

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