No C 229/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 2. 9. 82 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive on crude oil saving through the use of substitute fuel 
components in petrol 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 5 August 1982) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the 
Community has as its task to promote throughout the 
Community a harmonious development of economic 
activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and 
an increase in stability; 
Whereas in the present energy situation a reduction 
in the Community's dependence upon imported crude 
oil will contribute effectively to the achievement of 
these objectives; 
Whereas petrol used for the propulsion of vehicles 
powered by spark-ignition internal combustion 
engines is an important sector of oil consumption in 
the Community; 
Whereas the use of crude oil to' manufacture petrol 
for vehicles propelled by spark-ignition internal 
combustion engines can be reduced through blending 
hydrocarbon petrol with substitute fuel components; 
Whereas these substitute fuel components can be 
produced from raw materials other than crude oil 
both inside and outside the Community, thereby 
broadening the raw materials base of fuels used for 
the propulsion of spark-ignition internal combustion 
engines; 
Whereas the distribution and use of petrol blended 
with substitute fuel components as defined by this 
Directive, require no, or only minor, modifications to 
existing petrol distribution systems and no 
modifications to existing vehicles propelled by spark-
ignition internal combustion engines designed to 
operate on petrol; Whereas the distribution and combustion of blends as 
defined by this Directive carries no safety, health or 
environmental risks significantly different from those 
of petrol currently sold for automotive purposes in 
the Community; 
Whereas the objective of saving crude oil makes it 
desirable that no obstacles are placed in the way of 
the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of suitable 
blends for the propulsion of vehicles powered by 
spark-ignition internal combustion engines; 
Whereas cross-border traffic requires that motorists 
are offered compatible fuels for their motor vehicles 
everywhere in the European Community and 
potential users must be able to distinguish between 
fuels covered by this Directive and others which can 
be used only in specifically designed or adapted 
vehicles; 
Whereas scientific and technical developments may 
make it appropriate to modify the technical annex to 
the Directive; whereas in order to make such 
modifications a procedure should be set up; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide the specific 
powers necessary for these purposes, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Member States shall take all such steps as may be 
necessary to ensure that there are no legal or 
administrative obstacles on their respective territories 
to the production, sale, distribution and use of petrol 
blends containing organic oxygenates as substitute 
fuel components which are in conformity with the 
technical annex. Such blended fuels must be usable 
safely and with similar performance to current petrol 
by vehicles propelled by spark-ignition internal 
combustion engines currently in use or being offered 
for sale without requiring any modification to such 
vehicles. 
2. 9. 82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 229/5 
Article 2 
For the purposes of the Directive, 'petrol' means any 
liquid hydrocarbon mixture suitable for the operation 
of spark-ignition internal combustion engines. 
Article 3 
Pumps for the sale of motor fuels to the general 
public dispensing motor fuels not in conformity with 
Article 1 shall be clearly marked accordingly. 
Article 4 
The technical annex may be amended in accordance 
with the procedure laid down in Articles 5 and 6. 
Article 5 
1. A committee on the adaptation of the technical 
annex to scientific and technical developments, here­
inafter called 'the Committee', shall be set up. 
2. The Committee shall also be empowered to 
examine substitute fuel components not covered by 
this Directive but without having recourse to the 
procedure in Article 6. 
3. The Committee shall consist of representatives 
of the Member States,, with a Commission rep­
resentative as chairman. It shall be convened by the 
chairman, either on his own initiative or at the 
request of the repesentative of a Member State. 
4. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of 
procedure. 
Article 6 
1. Where recourse is had to the procedure laid 
down in this Article, the Commission representative shall submit to the Committee a draft of the 
amendments to be made. The Committee shall give its 
opinion on the draft within a period set by the the 
chairman having regard to the urgency of the matter. 
Decisions shall be taken by a majority of 45 votes, the 
votes of the Member States being weighted as 
provided for in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty. The 
chairman shall not vote. 
2. The Commission shall adopt the proposed 
amendments if they are consistent with the opinion of 
the Committee. Where the proposed amendments are 
not consistent with the opinion of the Committee, or 
if no opinion is delivered, the Commission may 
submit to the Council a proposal on the amendments 
to be made. 
The Council shall decide by a qualified majority. If 
within three months of the proposal being submitted 
to it the Council has not acted, the proposed 
amendments shall be adopted by the Commission. 
Article 7 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to 
comply with this Directive by ... They shall 
forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 
2. Member States shall communicate to the 
Commission the texts of the provisions of national 
law with they have adopted in the field covered by 
this Directive. 
Article 8 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
TECHNICAL ANNEX 
I. Definitions 
Methanol, ethanol, TBA (tertiary-butyl alcohol), MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether), isopropyl 
alcohol, secondary butyl alcohols and certain other compounds of the following classes, i.e. 
alcohols and ethers, all boiling below 205° C are currently acceptable organic oxygenates for 
use as substitute fuel components and/or stabilizing agents for motor fuels. Mixtures of any of 
the above compounds are also acceptable. The term 'stabilizing agents' in this Directive refers to 
certain of these substances added to assist in the prevention of phase separation of petrol/sub­
stitute fuel component blends. 
II. Composition of blends 
The blends of petrol and organic oxygenates referred to in Article 1 of this Directive shall 
contain not more than 10 % by volume of organic oxygenates including methanol and any 
necessary stabilizing agents. Methanol must not exceed 3 % by volume. 
No C 229/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 2.9.82 
The use of components other than those specified in I above as proprietary additives at 
concentrations below 0 • 5 % in total is not affected by this Directive. 
III. Requirements 
Technical specifications for current motor fuels are defined at present in Member States by 
national standards. Petrol blended with organic oxygenates will have to conform not only with 
those standards that apply to the types of fuels that the blends are intended to complement or 
replace, but also with additional specification points relating to certain properties that are 
peculiar to petrol blended with organic oxygenates, as for example, water tolerance, 
hygroscopicity, material compatibility and detrimental impurities including organic acid content, 
copper content, etc., which need to be considered by the appropriate standards organizations.