Explanatory Note
This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.
These regulations consolidate and amend the Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 1998 and preceding regulations.
The regulations apply progressively over the period September 2002 to January 2006.
They specify technical requirements to be met in respect of petrol and diesel supplied for use other than as an aviation fuel for motorcar, motorcycle, and powerboat racing, and for jetboats.
The regulations have been significantly updated to reflect changes in international environmental, health and safety standards for fuel, improvements in refinery technologies, and changes to vehicle requirements, particularly those related to emissions technologies.
Substantive changes to the petrol specifications are to---
- progressively reduce maximum allowable sulphur levels, benzene levels, and total aromatics levels; and
- allow for the addition of up to 10% ethanol in petrol; and
- regulate maximum levels of olefins from 2004; and
- amend distillation properties (E70, E100, E150, E180, end point); and
- regulate vapour pressure, and delete flexible volatility index minimum; and
- not allow the addition of MTBE, manganese, and phosphorous (with only contamination levels provided for); and
- change the colour requirement to provide that petrol not be mistaken for water.
Substantive changes to the diesel specifications are to---
- progressively reduce maximum allowable sulphur levels; and
- narrow the allowable density range; and
- amend the distillation specification from T85 to T95 and reduce by 2006; and
- regulate maximum polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from 2006; and
- progressively increase the minimum cetane index and cetane number; and
- amend the cloud point and cold filter plugging specifications; and
- regulate for filter blocking tendency, lubricity, oxidation stability, water content, and particulates.
Back to Top