Australian state of victoria to conduct ethanol checks.
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MELBOURNE, May 1 Asia Pulse - Consumer affairs inspectors in the Australian state of Victoria will today start conducting spot checks on service stations to see whether they are conforming to the state’s new ethanol monitoring scheme. As of today, service stations selling petrol containing ethanol must, by law, display a sign telling motorists how much of the additive they are putting in their tanks. Ethanol, which is distilled from sugar cane, is promoted as a clean, renewable fuel, which can reduce fossil-fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, car makers contend that it damages motors when added to petrol in concentrations greater than 10 per cent and have threatened to void warranties unless use of the additive is controlled. The Victorian scheme calls for outlets selling petrol with ethanol to say whether there is more or less than 10 per cent of the additive in the blend. Service stations have been issued with A4-size labels in different colours: Amber for up to 10 per cent ethanol, and red for more than 10 per cent. A study of ethanol impact on two engines released in February found a 10 per cent blend caused no substantial damage, although when the fuel contained 20 per cent ethanol, substantial problems were encountered. Last year, consumer bodies joined motoring groups and car manufacturers in calling on the government to limit ethanol levels to 10 per cent. Federal Environment Minister David Kemp said the jury was still out on ethanol in petrol but urged the states to implement warning schemes at servos. Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister John Lenders said service stations caught flouting the new law could face fines of up to A$60,000 (US$37,500) and individuals could face fines of up to A$24,000 (US$15,000). “Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) will continue to do random spot checks and respond to complaints to ensure compliance,” he said. CAV has 30 inspectors across the state who will be conducting checks on ethanol use in addition to policing changes to real estate laws outlawing dummy bidding at auctions and their wider tasks under consumer legislation. The Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Australia (PMAA), representing independent service station operators, said the warning scheme was a good idea. “Customers have a right to know what they are buying,” PMAA president Jim Lamb said. ASIA PULSE b 01-05 1823 More : accessmylibrary.com |