The Biofuel (Labelling) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Biofuel (Labelling) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3349) (“the 2004 Regulations”).

These Regulations transpose Articles 3(3) and 4(1) of Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels (OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, pp. 58–68) as amended by Directive 2009/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 (OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, pp. 88–113) in so far as they require the provision of information to consumers in relation to biofuel blends. This transposition is effected by retaining, for most biofuel blend ratios, the form of pump label previously prescribed.

They also transpose Article 26(2) of Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, pp. 16–62) in so far as Article 26(2) repeals Article 3(5) of Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport (OJ L 123, 17.05.2003, pp. 42-46). That repeal takes effect from 1 April 2010. This transposition is effected by disapplying all labelling requirements from 1 April 2010 for those fuels for which continued labelling is not necessary to satisfy the obligations imposed by Directive 98/70/EC as amended and referred to above. An interim pump label is also prescribed for such fuels to cover the period between the date that these Regulations come into force and 1 April 2010.

Regulation 3 amends the 2004 Regulations to require fuel retailers selling diesel blends containing more than 5% but not more than 7% by volume of biodiesel to display a label stating “Contains up to 7% biodiesel” at the point of sale. This requirement applies between the date that these Regulations come into force and 1 April 2010. As of 1 April 2010 this regulation amends the labelling requirements to allow fuel retailers to sell any diesel blend containing not more than 7% biodiesel by volume without the need to display a label at the point of sale.

Regulation 4 makes a consequential amendment to paragraph 2(1) of the Schedule to the 2004 Regulations. If an employee or agent contravenes the labelling obligation which is imposed until 1 April 2010, that will constitute an offence whether or not proceedings are taken against the relevant employer or principal.

A Transposition Note in respect of the relevant parts of Directive 2009/28/EC and Directive 98/70/EC as amended has been laid before each House of Parliament.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles Division, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (telephone [phone]) and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website, www.opsi.gov.uk. A copy of the impact assessment has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

A copy of the Directives referred to in this Explanatory Note may be obtained from the Office of Public Sector Information or viewed in the Official Journal of the European Union via the EUR-Lex website at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/.