Implementing the Fuel Quality Monitoring Programme
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We also propose the following technical amendments that are related to how MBIE implements our fuel quality monitoring programme.
Table 5: Technical amendments related to fuel quality monitoring
| Proposed change | Reason |
|---|---|
| Revise regulation 4 so that it is clear the Regulations apply to marine fuel oil. | The current wording of Clause 4 is too focused on petrol diesel, biodiesel and ethanol. It should be clear that marine fuel oil is covered by the Regulations. |
| Revise regulation 5 so that the definition of ‘engine fuel’ includes marine fuel oil. Currently, ‘engine fuel’ means “any gaseous or liquid fuel that can be used as a fuel for engines, and includes biofuel, diesel, petrol, synthetic fuel, and blends of these.” | The current definition does not expressly include marine fuel oil that was recently introduced in the Regulations. |
| Update Regulation 21 so that it does not refer to a specific year of issue for ISO standard 9001 (currently it refers to the year 2000), and so that it instead refers to a requirement for accreditation to ISO 9001, ISO 17020 or ISO 17025. | Regulation 3 already specifies that "ISO 9001" always means the latest version of that document. So, it is not necessary to specify a year of issue for ISO 9001. Additionally, ISO 9001, ISO 17020 and ISO 17025 reflect the latest ISO accreditation that the industry has adopted for fuel sampling and testing. |
| Update regulation 21 so that it refers to accreditation of an organisation or agency, rather than an individual or employee. | Currently, individuals who collect samples are required, according to the Energy Act 1989, to obtain written authorization from MBIE. Since MBIE usually sub-contracts fuel sampling and testing tasks to large third-party organisations (which tend to have many employees), individual, written authorisation to an individual in every instance can be challenging. Changing the requirement so that it is instead organisations that require accreditation, would practically streamline the authorisation process. |
| Review and update the Excise and Excise Equivalent Duties Table to align with terminologies for fuel products in the Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations where possible. | The Table and Regulations should be harmonised to provide clarity about how legal requirements, such as those relating to the petroleum or engine fuel monitoring levy, apply to different fuel products imported and supplied to New Zealand. |
Questions for consultation
25. Do you support these proposed changes to the implementation of MBIE’s Fuel Quality Monitoring Programme? If not, why not?