The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order implements Chapter 5 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004, and imposes on transport fuel suppliers who supply relevant hydrocarbon oil in the United Kingdom an obligation to produce evidence that a certain amount of renewable transport fuel has been supplied in the United Kingdom (the “RTF obligation”) (Part 2).

Part 3 of the Order provides for the establishment of a new body corporate as the Administrator, and this is to be known as the Office of the Renewable Fuels Agency (article 6). The Schedule makes provision about the Office as regards its constitution, staff, proceedings, money, accounts and audit, duty to give information to the Secretary of State, and any conflicts of interest. Part 3 also makes provision about the Administrator establishing and maintaining accounts for transport fuel suppliers (articles 7 to 11), and making an annual report to the Secretary of State which is then to be laid before Parliament (article 14). It also confers powers and imposes duties on the Administrator as regards requiring information from suppliers (articles 12 and 13) and other matters (article 15).

Part 4 provides for the issue of RTF (renewable transport fuel) certificates to suppliers who are subject to an RTF obligation, and to other suppliers who are not so obligated. These certificates can then be produced as evidence that the obligation has been discharged. Certificates may also be transferred (article 18) or revoked (article 20).

Part 5 provides for the discharge of an RTF obligation by payment in cases where a supplier has not wholly discharged the obligation by producing sufficient RTF certificates. Article 22 makes provision for the re-cycling of buy-out payments to certain transport fuel suppliers.

Part 6 provides for a person who contravenes certain provisions to be liable to a civil penalty. It also provides for the process of objecting to a civil penalty (article 24). Section 131 of the Energy Act 2004 provides for appeals to be made to the High Court (in England and Wales or Northern Ireland) or the Court of Session (in Scotland) where a person disputes a liability to a penalty or claims that the penalty is too high.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR. A copy has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament. A copy may also be accessed on the OPSI website www.opsi.gov.uk.