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Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 1998

[ Last Updated 19 December 2005 ]
Status:Archived

S.R. 1998/267

As a result of the review, these Regulations were revoked on 1 September 2002. The Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 2002 now apply.

Michael Hardie Boys, Governor-General

Order In Council

At Wellington this 14th day of September 1998

Present:

The Right Hon. Jenny Shipley presiding in Council

PURSUANT to the Ministry of Energy (Abolition) Act 1989, His Excellency the Governor-General, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, makes the following regulations.

Analysis

Regulations

1. Title and Commencement

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 1998.

(2) These regulations come into force on the 28th day after the date of their notification in the Gazette.

2. Interpretation

(1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,---

"Diesel" means a refined petroleum distillate having a viscosity and distillation range intermediate between those of kerosene and light lubricating oil, whether or not it contains additives, intended for use as fuel in internal combustion engines ignited by compression:

"Fuel" means diesel or petrol:

"Marine use" means the use or intended use of diesel on a boat or ship:

"Oxygenates" means alcohols and ethers added to fuel:

"Petrol" means a refined petroleum distillate, normally boiling within the limits of 30°C to 220°C, whether or not it contains additives, intended for use as a fuel in spark-ignition internal combustion engines:

"Petroleum" has the same meaning as it has in section 2 (1) of the Crown Minerals Act 1991:

"Retail sale" means a sale to an end user who has no written supply agreement or written contract with the supplier in respect of the sale.

(2) In these regulations,---

"ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials:

"BS" means British Standard:

"DIN" means the German Institute for Standardisation:

"IP" means the Institute of Petroleum, London:

"ISO" means the International Organization for Standardization.

(3) In these regulations, the letter "D" and a series of numerals, or a series of numerals immediately following an expression referred to in subclause (2), means the latest version of the document identified by that serial number.

(4) Where a test method prescribed in these regulations provides for a joint method, each of the alternative methods have equal standing, and either of those methods may be used.

3. Requirements Relating to Fuel Sold by Retail

(1) The requirements imposed by subclauses (2), (3), and (4) apply to all fuel, however described, supplied, or available or intended for supply, by way of retail sale, except to fuel that is to be used---

(a) As an aviation fuel; or

(b) For motor car racing; or

(c) For powerboat racing and jet boats; or

(d) For motorcycle racing.

(2) Regular grade petrol must have properties that conform to the limits specified in Schedule 1, when tested by the methods specified in that schedule.

(3) Premium grade petrol must have properties that conform to the limits specified in Schedule 2, when tested by the methods specified in that schedule.

(4) Diesel must have properties that conform to the limits specified in Schedule 3, when tested by the methods specified in that schedule.

4. Requirements Relating to All Fuel

(1) The requirements imposed by subclauses (2), (3), and (4) apply to all fuel supplied or available or intended for supply (whether by way of sale or otherwise) for any end use other than---

(a) As an aviation fuel; or

(b) For motor car racing; or

(c) For powerboat racing and jet boats; or

(d) For motorcycle racing.

(2) Regular grade petrol must have properties in respect of sulphur, lead, benzene, and total aromatic compounds that conform to the limits specified in Schedule 1, when tested by the methods specified in that schedule.

(3) Premium grade petrol must have properties in respect of sulphur, lead, benzene, and total aromatic compounds that conform to the limits specified in Schedule 2, when tested by the methods specified in that schedule.

(4) Diesel must have properties in respect of sulphur that conform to the limit specified in Schedule 3, when tested by the methods specified in that schedule.

5. Test Procedures

(1) The procedure for obtaining a representative sample of fuel for testing by the test methods set out in these regulations is set out in Part 1 of BS 3195 and in Section 2.2 of BS 4040, Section 3 of BS EN 228, and Section 3 of BS EN 590.

(2) In the event of a dispute as to the appropriate value, nature, or rating of any of the properties listed in the schedules or referred to in these regulations, the relevant procedures specified in ISO 4259 are to be used to interpret the laboratory results.

6. Sampling of Fuel, etc

The importer or wholesale supplier or retailer of any fuel to which these regulations apply must, at the request of a person authorised by the Secretary,---

(a) Permit the authorised person to take a sample of the fuel before it is discharged from a vessel or pipeline or pump for distribution or sale; or

(b) In the case of an importer or wholesale supplier, supply the authorised person with a certificate describing the properties and value of any such fuel.

7. Accreditation

A person authorised by the Secretary to take samples or to conduct testing of fuel for compliance with these regulations must, unless the person is an employee of the Ministry of Commerce, be ISO 9001 certified for fuel sampling or testing, or be accredited by International Accreditation New Zealand, or by an overseas accreditation agency recognised under New Zealand's mutual recognition arrangements.

8. Withdrawal of Fuel from Sale, etc

If the Minister is satisfied that the properties of any fuel to which these regulations apply do not comply with the relevant provisions of these regulations, the Minister may, by written notice given to any distributor of the fuel, require the distributor to---

(a) Withdraw the fuel from retail sale or cease making it available for retail sale; or

(b) Withdraw the fuel from availability, or cease making it available, for any end use, other than use as an aviation fuel.

9. Offences

A person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 who---

(a) Supplies, or makes available for supply, any fuel other than in accordance with regulation 3 or regulation 4; or

(b) Fails to comply with a request made under regulation 6; or

(c) Fails to comply with a requirement made under regulation 8.

10. Revocations

The following regulations are consequentially revoked:

(a) The Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 19951

(b) The Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 1995, Amendment No. 12

(c) The Petroleum Products Specifications Amendment Regulations 19973

Schedules

Schedule 1: Requirements for Regular Grade Petrol

Regs. 3 (2), 4 (2)

Property Limit Test Method
Research octane number 91.0 minimum ASTM D 2699
Motor octane number 82.0 minimum ASTM D 2700
Colour Not to be mistaken for a harmless substance Visual
Percentage volume evaporated at 70°C (E70) 25 minimum
45 maximum		 ASTM D 86
Percentage volume evaporated at 100°C (E 100) 45 minimum
67 maximum		 ASTM D 86
Percentage volume evaporated at 180°C (E 180) 90 minimum ASTM D 86
End point (degrees Celsius) 220 maximum ASTM D 86
Residue (percentage volume) 2 maximum ASTM D 86
Flexible volatility index
[RVP (kPa) + (0.7 x E 70)]4		 77.5 minimum
115.0 maximum		 ASTM D 323 and
ASTM D 86
Copper strip corrosion (2 hours at 100°C) Class 1 maximum ASTM D 130
Sulphur (percentage mass) 0.05 maximum ASTM D 1266 or
IP 336
Existent gum (solvent washed) (mg/100ml) 5 maximum ASTM D 381
Oxidation stability induction period (minutes) 240 minimum ASTM D 525
Lead (grams per litre) 0.013 maximum IP 224
Benzene (percentage mass) 5 maximum ASTM D 5580
Total aromatic compounds (including benzene) (percentage volume) 48 maximum ASTM D 5580
Oxygenates (percentage mass)5 0.1 maximum DIN 51 413-01

Schedule 2: Requirements for Premium Grade Petrol

Regs. 3 (3), 4 (3)

Property Limit Test Method
Research octane number 95.0 minimum ASTM D 2699
Motor octane number 85.0 minimum ASTM D 2700
Colour Not to be mistaken for a harmless substance Visual
Percentage volume evaporated at 70°C (E 70) 25 minimum
45 maximum		 ASTM D 86
Percentage volume evaporated at 100°C (E 100) 45 minimum
67 maximum		 ASTM D 86
Percentage volume evaporated at 180°C (E 180) 90 minimum ASTM D 86
End point (degrees Celsius) 220 maximum ASTM D 86
Residue (percentage volume) 2 maximum ASTM D 86
Flexible volatility index [RVP (kPa) + (0.7 x E 70)]6 77.5 minimum
115.0 maximum		 ASTM D 323 and
ASTM D 86
Copper strip corrosion (2 hours at 100°C) Class 1 maximum ASTM D 130
Sulphur (percentage mass) 0.05 maximum ASTM D 1266 or
IP 336
Existent gum (solvent washed) (mg/100ml) 5 maximum ASTM D 381
Oxidation stability induction period (minutes) 240 minimum ASTM D 525
Lead (grams per litre) 0.013 maximum IP 224
Benzene (percentage mass) 5 maximum ASTM D 5580
Total aromatic compounds (including benzene) (percentage volume) 48 maximum ASTM D 5580
Oxygenates (percentage mass)7 0.1 maximum DIN 51 413-01

Schedule 3: Requirements for Diesel

Regs. 3 (4), 4 (4)

Property Limit Test Method
Density at 15°C (kg per litre) 0.810 minimum
0.860 maximum		 ASTM D 1298
Appearance at 15°C Clear and bright ASTM D 4176(B)
Colour (ASTM colour) 3.0 maximum ASTM D 1500
Cetane number or 45 minimum ASTM D 613
Cetane index 47 minimum ASTM D 976
Cloud point (degrees Celsius)8 - Summer 4 maximum ASTM D 2500
Cloud point or Cold filter plugging point (CFPP) (degrees Celsius)9 - Winter -6 maximum ASTM D 2500 or
IP 309
Viscosity (centistokes at 40°C) 1.50 minimum
5.00 maximum		 ASTM D 445
Flash point (degrees Celsius) 61 minimum ASTM D 93
Sulphur (percentage mass)10 0.30 maximum IP 242
Copper strip corrosion (3 hours at 100°C) Class 1 maximum ASTM D 130
Ash (percentage mass) 0.01 maximum ASTM D 482
Carbon residue-Ramsbottom on 10% volume residuum (percentage mass) 0.20 maximum ASTM D 524
Distillation-85% volume recovered to (degrees Celsius) 350 maximum ASTM D 86

MARIE SHROFF,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

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 1995 and its amendments.

The regulations come into force on the 28th day after the date of their notification in the Gazette.

They specify technical requirements to be met by petroleum fuels distributed in New Zealand.

The substantive changes implemented by these regulations are as follows:

  1. To remove any specific colouring requirements for petrol, and substitute the requirement that petrol be coloured to distinguish it from a harmless substance. Currently, regular grade petrol has to be purple/bronze (Schedule 1) and premium grade petrol has to be yellow (Schedule 2):
  2. Changes to test methods for lead, sulphur, benzene, and total aromatic compounds (Schedule 1 and Schedule 2):
  3. Regular grade petrol is required to comply with the 48% volume limit for total aromatic compounds which was formerly imposed only on premium grade petrol (Schedule 1):
  4. The removal of the exemption for the retail sale of premium grade petrol from compliance with the 48% volume limit for total aromatic compounds (current regulations 3 (3A) and 4 (3A)):
  5. Certain changes to test procedures (regulation 5):
  6. A certification requirement for any person, other than a Ministry of Commerce employee, sampling or testing fuel for the Ministry of Commerce (regulation 7):
  7. An increase in the maximum fine level for an offence from $1,000 to $10,000 (regulation 9).

Issued under the authority of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989.

Date of notification in Gazette: 17 September 1998.

These regulations are administered in the Ministry of Commerce.

1S.R. 1995/270

2S.R. 1996/51

3S.R. 1997/29

4Specifications cover broad range of summer and winter grades.

5Does not apply where the added oxygenate is methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Up to 11% volume MTBE may be added.

6Specifications cover broad range of summer and winter grades.

7Does not apply where the added oxygenate is methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Up to 11% volume MTBE may be added.

8Applies at time of manufacture in New Zealand or, for imports, date of discharge into port storage at a New Zealand port. Summer: 1 September to last day of February. Winter: 1 March to 31 August. Sales for marine use may be summer grade at any time of the year.

9Applies at time of manufacture in New Zealand or, for imports, date of discharge into port storage at a New Zealand port. Summer: 1 September to last day of February. Winter: 1 March to 31 August. Sales for marine use may be summer grade at any time of the year.

10The limit for sulphur does not apply to sale for marine use.

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