G/TBT/N/NZL/74  
 
20 April 2016  
(16-2233)  Page: 1/3  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: NEW ZEALAND 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible: 
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment 
15 Stout Street 
P.O. Box 1473 Wellington 6140 
New Zealand 
Tel: +64 4 460 1361 Email: david.buckrell@mbie.govt.nz   
Website: http://www.mbie.govt.nz   
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10 .1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other: 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Engine fuels 
2710.12.15; 2710.12.23; 2710.12.19; 2710.12.29; 2710.12.17; 2710.12.25; 2710.12.19; 
2710.12.29; 2710.19.32; 2710.19.36; 2207.20.23; 2207.20.35; 3824.90.87; 3824.90.93; 
3826.00.10; 3826.00.30 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Reviewing Aspects 
of the Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations 2011: Discussion Paper (59 pages)  
6. Description of content: A consultation document outlining various proposals to amend 
existing fuel specifications as delineated under the Engine Fuel Specifications 
Regulations 2011.  
Proposals relevant to the TBT Committee include those that are designed to: 
 Align with international specifications: 
 Maximum sulphur for petrol reduced from 50 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg by 
1 July 2018; 
 Maximum oxygen content introduced of 2.7 percent mass for petrol blends with 
a maximum ethanol content of 5.0 percent, and 3.7 percent mass for petrol with a maximum ethanol content of 10.0 percent. Petrol blends with ethanol include mono-alcohols and ethers with a final boiling point no higher than 210
0C. 
 Maximum methanol content introduced of 3.0 percent volume. The following 
stipulations for petrol blended with methanol would also be introduced:  The methanol component of any blend of petrol and methanol must contain a 
corrosion inhibitor; 
 Co-solvent must be added; 
 The flexible volatility index maximum allowed for regular and premium grade 
petrol blended with more than 1 percent and not more than 3 percent 
volume methanol is: 115.0 summer; 120.0 autumn and spring; 130.0 winter. Petrol that complies with the previous season's quality, and G/TBT/N/NZL/74 
 
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  that is stored in a filling-station tank to which fewer than 3 deliveries of 
petrol have been made since 6 weeks before the beginning of the season, is regarded as complying with this specification for up to 6 weeks after the 
beginning of the season; and 
 The maximum vapour pressure allowed for regular and premium grade petrol 
blended with more than 1 percent and not more than 3 percent methanol 
is: Auckland and Northland: 72 kPa summer; 87 kPa autumn and spring; 
97 kPa winter; rest of North Island: 77 kPa summer; 87 kPa autumn and 
spring; 97 kPa winter; South Island: 82 kPa summer; 92 kPa autumn and 
spring; 102 kPa winter. Petrol that complies with the previous season's 
quality, and that is stored in a filling-station tank to which fewer than 3 deliveries of petrol have been made since 6 weeks before the beginning of the season, is regarded as complying with this specification for up to 6 weeks 
after the beginning of the season. 
 If petrol contains methanol greater than 1 percent by volume, the seller of 
the petrol must ensure that the dispensing pump or container is clearly 
marked to display - 
 The maximum percentage by volume of methanol that the petrol contains 
(which must be no greater than the limit set out in Schedule 1 of the 
Regulations); and 
 The words "May not be suitable for all vehicles/engines. Check with the 
manufacturer before use." 
 Biodiesel blend limit in diesel increased from 5% volume to 7% volume. 
 Minimum oxidation stability in biodiesel increased from 6 hours to 8 hours. 
 New standard for petrol blended with more than 70 percent and not more than 
85 percent ethanol with the following specifications: 
 Acidity (as acetic acid) – 0.006% m/m maximum to be tested using ASTM 
D1613; 
 Copper strip corrosion (3 hours at 500C) – No. 1 maximum to be tested 
using ASTM D130; 
 Ethanol – 70-85% v/v to be tested using ASTM D5501; 
 Final boiling point (distillation) – 210
0C maximum to be tested using ASTM 
D86; 
 Inorganic chloride – 1 mg/kg maximum to be tested using ASTM D7319 or 
ASTM D7328; 
 Methanol – 1.0% v/v maximum to be tested using ASTM D5501; 
 pHe – 6.5-9.0 to be tested using ASTM D6423; 
 Silver strip corrosion – Class 1 maximum to be tested using ASTM D130; 
 Solvent washed gum – 5 mg/100 mL maximum to be tested using ASTM 
3831; 
 Sulphur – 50 mg/kg maximum up to 31 December 2017 and then 
10 mg/kg maximum from 1 July 2018 to be tested using ASTM D5453 or IP 497; 
 Vapour pressure (DVPE) – for regular and premium grade petrol blended 
with more than 70% and less than 85% volume ethanol, the minimum vapour pressure allowed is 38 kPa and the maximum vapour pressure 
allowed is: Auckland and Northland: 62 kPa summer; 70 kPa autumn and 
spring; 80 kPa winter; rest of North Island: 65 kPa summer; 75 kPa autumn and spring; 80 kPa winter; South Island: 70 kPa summer; 
80 kPa autumn and spring; 85 kPa winter to be tested using ASTM D5191
 
 Water – 1.0% m/m maximum to be testing using ASTM E203 or 
EN 15489 
 Legal clarifications to reflect original policy intent: 
 Calculation of "pool averages" for aromatics in petrol is to be clarified so that in 
any six month period the average aromatic content does not exceed 42% volume. 
 Consequential amendments: 
 The maximum density for diesel blended with more than 1% and not more than 
7% volume fatty acid methyl esters is increased to 854 kg/m
3" 
 Maximum sulphur level in ethanol reduced to 10 mg/kg by 1 July 2018 G/TBT/N/NZL/74 
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: The objectives of the review were to:  
 Improve environmental and public health outcomes by reducing harmful vehicle 
emissions and improving air quality; 
 Enable new cleaner vehicle technologies; 
 Provide an adequate level of consumer prot ection by ensuring that fuel that is 
"fit for purpose" can be supplied to consumers; and 
 Provide as much flexibility as possible to fuel suppliers within minimum 
environmental, public health and consumer protection constraints (i.e. an "open 
specification"). This flexibility will help achieve one or several of the following 
outcomes:  Enhanced security of supply as fuel can be sourced from a wider range of 
refineries; 
 Minimisation of costs to consumers as the premium paid by fuel suppliers 
relative to the international benchmark is likely to be lower if there is a wider potential supply pool; and 
 Promote the Government's objectives ar ound biofuels uptake where this is 
technically and commercially viable. Increased sales of biofuels can help contribute to the Government's broader greenhouse gas emission abatement 
goals. 
8. Relevant documents:  
 Reviewing Aspects of the Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations 2011: Discussion 
Paper may be downloaded at: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/i nfo-services/sectors-
industries/energy/liquid-fuel-market/reviewing-aspects-of-the-engine-fuel-
specifications-regulations-2011/reviewing-aspects-of-the-engine-fuel-specifications-
regulations-2011.pdf  
 Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations 2011 may be downloaded 
at: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2011/0352/latest/DLM4044701.
html?src=qs  
9. Proposed date of adoption: 1 September 2016 
Proposed date of entry into force: 1 September 2016   
10. Final date for comments: 1 June 2016 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body: