Quality of petrol and diesel fuels: level of sulphur

2001/0107(COD)
The European Parliament adopted the report by Mrs Heidi Anneli HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FIN) on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Directive 98/70/EC. (Please refer to the previous text). In addition, the House also wants off-road machinery and farm tractors to be included in the legislation. MEPs agree with the Commission that 'zero-sulphur' fuels - defined as having a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg (parts per million) - will help improve air quality across Europe by enabling new vehicle technologies to meet emissions standards and by reducing CO2 emissions towards the Community's target of 120 g/kg for an average new car. MEPs also believe that industry is capable of meeting the new standards well before 2011. Moreover, the Parliament intends for a comprehensive review of alternative fuels, including liquid petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and bio-fuels, to be undertaken, and the need for specific legislation considered. Another amendment advocates the use of tax incentives for cleaner fuels and supports the Commission's deadline of 1 January 2005 for the Member States to begin marketing sulphur-free fuels. The Parliament suggests that the Commission publish by 31 December 2003, and thereafter annually, a report on fuel quality in the different Member States and geographic coverage of fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg (ppm), aiming to provide an overview of the fuel quality data in the different Member States.�