Directive 2003/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 March 2003 amending Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-03-03
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: administrative check, administrative sanction, air quality, diesel fuel, environmental standard, motor vehicle, petrol, product quality

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DIRECTIVE 2003/17/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels

of 3 March 2003

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 95 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

After consultation of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (3), in the light of the joint text approved by
the Conciliation Committee on 20 January 2003,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Directive 98/70/EC (4)
specifications for market fuels.

lays down the environmental

Article 95 of
the Treaty provides that Commission
proposals having as their object the establishment and
functioning of the internal market and concerning, inter
alia, health and environmental protection, will take as a
base a high level of protection and that the European
Parliament and the Council will also seek to achieve this
objective.

A revision of Directive 98/70/EC is foreseen in order to
meet the requirements of Community air quality stan-
dards and related objectives and in order to incorporate
additional specifications to complement those manda-
tory specifications already laid down in Annex III and
Annex IV to the Directive.

A reduction of the sulphur content of petrol and diesel
fuels has been identified as a means of contributing to
the achievement of those objectives.

The adverse effect of sulphur in petrol and diesel fuels
on the effectiveness of catalytic exhaust gas after-treat-
ment technologies is well established for on-road vehi-
cles and increasingly in the case of non-road mobile
machinery.

Road vehicles are increasingly reliant upon catalytic
after-treatment devices to attain the emissions limits laid
down in Council Directive 70/220/EEC of 20 March
1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member

(1) OJ C 213 E, 31.7.2001, p. 255.
(2) OJ C 36, 8.2.2002, p. 115.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 29 November 2001 (OJ C
153 E, 27.6.2002, p. 253). Council Common Position of 15 April
2002 (OJ C 145 E, 18.6.2002, p. 71) and decision of the European
Parliament of 26 September 2002 (not yet published in the Official
Journal). Decision of the European Parliament of 30 January 2003
and Council decision of 6 February 2003.

(4) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 58; Directive as last amended by Commis-

sion Directive 2000/71/EC (OJ L 287, 14.11.2000, p. 46).

the laws of

States on measures to be taken against air pollution by
emissions from motor vehicles (5) and Council Directive
88/77/EEC of 3 December 1987 on the approximation
of
the Member States relating to the
measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous
and particulate pollutants from compression ignition
engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous
pollutants from positive ignition engines fuelled with
natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehi-
cles (6). Accordingly a reduction in the sulphur content
of petrol and diesel fuels is likely to have a larger impact
on exhaust emissions than changes to the other fuel
parameters.

fuels with a maximum sulphur
The introduction of
content of 10 mg/kg will
improve the fuel efficiency
attainable with new, emerging vehicle technologies and
should be examined in the case of non-road mobile
machinery and should lead to significant reductions in
emissions of conventional air pollutants when used in
existing vehicles. These benefits will compensate for the
increased emissions of CO2 associated with the produc-
tion of lower sulphur petrol and diesel fuels.

is

therefore appropriate to lay down measures
It
ensuring the introduction and availability of fuels with a
maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg. In this regard
fiscal
incentives have been shown to be effective in
promoting the early introduction of higher quality fuels
according to national needs and priorities and to shorten
the transition period where two different qualities are
distributed in the market. The use of fiscal measures, at
the appropriate national or Community level, should be
promoted and encouraged.

The widespread availability of fuels with a maximum
sulphur content of 10 mg/kg will provide a basis for
automobile manufacturers to make significant additional
progress towards improving the fuel efficiency of new
vehicles. The potential contribution of
fuels with a
maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg towards the
attainment of the Community's target of 120 g/km for
the average CO2 emissions of the new car fleet will be
assessed when the current environmental commitments
with the automobile manufacturers are reviewed in
2003.

(7)

(8)

(9)

(5) OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 1; Directive as last amended by Directive
2001/100/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L
16, 18.1.2002, p. 32).

(6) OJ L 36, 9.2.1988, p. 33; Directive as last amended by Commission

Directive 2001/27/EC (OJ L 107, 18.4.2001, p. 10).

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(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

It is necessary to ensure that sufficient quantities of
petrol and diesel fuels with a maximum sulphur content
of 10 mg/kg are available from 1 January 2005 on an
appropriately balanced geographical basis in order to
permit
the free circulation of new vehicles requiring
these fuels whilst ensuring that CO2 emissions reductions
from new vehicles outweigh those additional emissions
associated with the production of these fuels.

The complete penetration of petrol and diesel fuels with
a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg should be
provided for from 1 January 2009 in order to allow the
fuel manufacturing industry enough time to make the
necessary investments to adapt its production plans. In
addition, the full introduction of petrol and diesel fuels
with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg from 1
January 2009 will reduce emissions of conventional
pollutants from the existing fleet of vehicles leading to
an improvement in air quality, whilst ensuring that there
is no overall
increase in greenhouse gas emissions. In
this context it will be necessary to confirm this date in
the case of diesel fuels no later than 31 December 2005.

In order to protect human health and/or the environ-
ment in specific agglomerations or in specific ecologi-
cally or environmentally sensitive areas with special
pollution problems, Member States should be permitted,
subject to a procedure established in this Directive, to
require that fuels may be marketed only if they comply
with more stringent environmental specifications, related
to pollutants of concern, than those established under
this Directive. This procedure is a derogation from the
information procedure laid down in Directive 98/34/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22
June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of
information in the field of technical standards and regu-
lations and of rules on information society services (1).

The emissions from engines installed in non-road mobile
machinery and agricultural and forestry tractors have to
comply with the limits stipulated in Directive 97/68/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16
December 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to measures against the emission
from internal
of gaseous and particulate pollutants
combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile
machinery (2) and in Directive 2000/25/EC of
the
European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May
2000 on action to be taken against the emission of
gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended
to power agricultural or forestry tractors (3). Attainment
of these emission limits will become increasingly depen-
dent upon the quality of the gas oils used by these
engines and so it is important to include a definition for
such fuels in Directive 98/70/EC.

(1) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37; Directive as amended by Directive 98/

48/EC (OJ L 217, 5.8.1998, p. 18).

(2) OJ L 59, 27.2.1998, p. 1. Directive as amended by Commission

Directive 2001/63/EC (OJ L 227, 23.8.2001, p. 41).

(3) OJ L 173, 12.7.2000, p. 1.

(14)

It is appropriate to provide for a uniform system of fuel
quality monitoring or national
systems that ensure
results of equivalent confidence and for systems of
reporting in order
to assess compliance with the
mandated environmental fuel quality specifications.

(15) A procedure should be laid down for updating the
measurement methods used to ensure compliance with
the mandated fuel quality specifications.

(16)

(17)

The measures necessary for the implementation of Direc-
tive 98/70/EC should be adopted in accordance with
Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying
implementing
the exercise of
for
down procedures
powers conferred on the Commission (4).

Provision should be made for a review of the provisions
in Directive 98/70/EC in order to take account of new
Community air quality legislation and related environ-
mental objectives, such as the need to encourage alterna-
including biofuels, the development of new
tive fuels,
technologies and the impact of
pollution abatement
issues on their
metallic additives and other relevant
performance and to confirm, or otherwise, the date for
full introduction of diesel fuels with a maximum sulphur
content of 10 mg/kg in order to ensure that there is no
overall increase in emissions of greenhouse gases.

(18) A comprehensive review of alternative fuels, including
biofuels, should be undertaken, including the discussion
of the need for specific legislation.

(19) Member States should lay down rules on penalties
applicable to infringements of the provisions of Directive
98/70/EC and ensure that they are implemented.

(20) Directive 98/70/EC should therefore be

amended

accordingly,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Directive 98/70/EC is hereby amended as follows:

1. Article 2 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive:

1. “petrol” means any volatile mineral oil intended for the
combustion positive-ignition
operation of
engines for the propulsion of vehicles and falling within
CN codes 2710 11 41, 2710 11 45, 2710 11 49,
2710 11 51 and 2710 11 59 (*);

internal

(4) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

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2. “diesel fuels” means gas oils falling within CN code
2710 19 41 (*) and used for self-propelling vehicles as
referred to in Directive 70/220/EEC and Directive 88/
77/EEC;

3.

in Article 4:

(a) the following subparagraphs shall be added to para-

graph 1:

3. “gas oils

intended for use by non-road mobile
machinery and agricultural and forestry tractors” means
any petroleum-derived liquid, falling within CN codes
2710 19 41 and 2710 19 45 (*),
intended for use in
engines referred to in Directives 97/68/EC (**) and
2000/25/EC (***);

4. “outermost regions” means France with regard to the
French overseas departments, Portugal with regard to
the Azores and Madeira, and Spain with regard to the
Canary Islands.

For Member States with arctic or severe winter conditions
the maximum distillation point of 65 % at 250 °C for
diesel fuels and gas oils may be replaced with a maximum
distillation point of 10 % (vol/vol) at 180 °C.

(*) The numbering of these CN codes as specified in the
CCT, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No
2031/2001 (OJ L 279, 23.10.2001, p. 1).

(**) OJ L 59, 27.2.1998, p. 1; Directive as amended by
L 227,

Commission Directive 2001/63/EC (OJ
23.8.2001, p. 41).

(***) OJ L 173, 12.7.2000, p. 1.’;

2. the following subparagraphs shall be added to Article 3(2):

‘(d) Without prejudice to the provisions of subparagraph
(c), Member States shall take all necessary measures to
ensure that in due time, and no later than 1 January
2005, unleaded petrol with a maximum sulphur
content of 10 mg/kg is marketed within their terri-
tories. Member States shall ensure that such unleaded
is available on an appropriately balanced
petrol
geographical basis and complies in all other respects
with the specifications set out in Annex III.

for

However, Member States may,
the outermost
regions, make specific provisions for the introduction
of petrol of a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/
kg. Member States making use of this provision shall
inform the Commission accordingly. The Commission
shall develop guidance for recommending what, for
the purposes of this subparagraph, constitutes avail-
ability on an appropriately balanced geographical
basis.

(e) By no later than 1 January 2009, Member States shall
ensure that unleaded petrol may be marketed in their
territory only if it complies with the environmental
specification set out
for the
sulphur content which shall be a maximum of
10 mg/kg.’;

in Annex III except

‘(d) Without prejudice to the provisions of subpara-
graph (c), Member States shall take all necessary
measures to ensure that in due time, and no later
than 1 January 2005, diesel fuel with a maximum
sulphur content of 10 mg/kg is marketed within
their territories. Member States shall ensure that
such diesel fuel
is available on an appropriately
balanced geographical basis and complies in all
other respects with the specifications set out in
Annex IV.

However, Member States may, for the outermost
regions, make specific provisions for the introduc-
tion of diesel fuel of a maximum sulphur content
of 10 mg/kg. Member States making use of this
provision shall
inform the Commission accord-
ingly.

(e) By no later than 1 January 2009, Member States
shall ensure, subject to the provisions of Article
9(1)(a), that diesel fuel may be marketed in their
it complies with the environ-
territory only if
mental specification set out in Annex IV except
for
a
maximum of 10 mg/kg.’;

content which shall be

sulphur

the

(b) the following paragraph shall be added:

‘5. Member States shall ensure that gas oils intended
for use by non-road mobile machinery and agricultural
and forestry tractors marketed within their territory
contain less than 2 000 mg/kg of sulphur. By 1
January 2008 at the latest, the maximum permissible
sulphur content of gas oils intended for use by non-
road mobile machinery and agricultural and forestry
shall be 1 000 mg/kg. However, Member
tractors
States may require a lower limit or the same sulphur
content for diesel fuels stipulated in this Directive.’;

4.

in Article 6:

(a) paragraph 1 shall be replaced by the following:

territory,

‘1.
By way of derogation from Articles 3, 4 and 5
and in accordance with Article 95(10) of the Treaty, a
Member State may take measures to require that in
fuels may be
specific areas, within its
marketed only if
they comply with more stringent
environmental specifications than those provided for
in this Directive for all or part of the vehicle fleet with
a view to protecting the health of the population in a
specific agglomeration or the environment in a specific
ecologically or environmentally sensitive area in that
Member State, if atmospheric or ground water pollu-
tion constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to
constitute, a serious and recurrent problem for human
health or the environment.’;

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(b) paragraph 3 shall be replaced by the following:

‘3.
The Member States involved shall provide the
Commission with relevant environmental data for the
agglomeration or area in question as well as the
predicted effects on the environment of the measures
proposed.’;

(c) paragraphs 7 and 8 shall be deleted;

5. Article 8 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 8

Monitoring compliance and reporting

1. Member States shall monitor compliance with the
requirements of Articles 3 and 4, in respect of petrol and
diesel fuels, on the basis of the analytical methods referred
to in European standards EN 228:1999 and EN 590:1999
respectively.

2. Member States shall establish a fuel quality moni-
toring system in accordance with the requirements of the
relevant European standard. The use of an alternative fuel
quality monitoring system may be permitted provided that
such a system ensures results of equivalent confidence.

3.
Each year by 30 June, the Member States shall submit
a report of national fuel quality data for the preceding
calendar year. The first report shall be submitted by 30
June 2002. From 1 January 2004, the format for this
report shall be consistent with that described in the rele-
vant European standard. In addition, Member States shall
report the total volumes of petrol and diesel fuels marketed
in their territories and the volumes of unleaded petrol and
diesel fuels marketed with a maximum sulphur content of
10 mg/kg.
report
Furthermore, Member States
annually on the availability on an appropriately balanced
geographical basis of petrol and diesel
fuels with a
maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg that are marketed
within their territory.

shall

The Commission shall ensure that the information
4.
to paragraph 3 is promptly made
submitted pursuant
available by appropriate means. The Commission shall
publish annually, and for the first time by 31 December
2003, a report on actual
fuel quality in the different
Member States and geographical coverage of fuels with a
content of 10 mg/kg, aiming to
maximum sulphur
provide an overview of
the fuels quality data in the
different Member States.’;

6. Article 9 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 9

Review process

1.
By 31 December 2005 at the latest, the Commission
shall review the fuel specifications of Annexes III and IV
with the exception of sulphur content and propose amend-
ments, if appropriate, in keeping with current and future

requirements of Community vehicle emission and air
quality legislation and related objectives. In particular, the
Commission shall consider:

(a) the necessity of any change to the end date for the full
introduction of diesel fuel, with a maximum sulphur
content of 10 mg/kg, in order to ensure that there is
no overall increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This
analysis shall consider developments in refinery proces-
sing technologies, expected fuel economy improve-
ments of vehicles and the rate at which new fuel-effi-
cient technologies are introduced into the vehicle fleet;

(b) the implications of new Community legislation setting
air quality standards for substances such as polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons;

(c) the outcome of the review described in Article 10 of
Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999
relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and
lead in ambient air (*);

(d) the outcome of the review of the various commitments
by the Japanese (**), Korean (***) and European (****)
automobile manufacturers to reduce the fuel consump-
tion and carbon dioxide emissions of new passenger
cars in the light of the fuel quality changes introduced
by this Directive and progress towards the Community
target of 120 g/km CO2 emissions for the average
vehicle;

(e) the outcome of the review required by Article 7 of
Directive 1999/96/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 13 December 1999 on the approxi-
mation of the laws of the Member States relating to
measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous
and particulate pollutants from compression ignition
engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous
pollutants from positive ignition engines fuelled with
natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehi-
cles and amending Council Directive 88/77/EEC (*****)
and the confirmation of the mandatory NOx emission
standard for heavy duty engines;

(f) the effective functioning of new pollution abatement
technologies and the impact of metallic additives and
other relevant issues on their performance and devel-
opments affecting international fuel markets;

(g) the need to encourage the introduction of alternative
fuels, including biofuels, as well as the need to intro-
duce modifications to other parameters in the fuel
specifications, both for conventional and for alternative
fuels, for example the modifications to the maximum
volatility limits for petrol contained in this Directive
required for their application to blends of bioethanol
with petrol and any subsequent necessary changes to
EN 228:1999.

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2. When considering its proposal for the next stage of
emission standards for compression ignition engines in
non-road applications, the Commission shall establish in
parallel the required fuel quality. In so doing, the Commis-
sion shall take into account the importance of the emis-
the overall environmental and
sions from this sector,
health benefits,
the implications in the Member States
regarding fuel distribution and the costs and benefits of a
more restrictive sulphur level than is currently required for
fuel used in compression ignition engines in non-road
applications, and shall then align appropriate fuel quality
requirements for non-road applications with the on-road
sector by a certain date, currently expected to be 1 January
2009, to be confirmed or amended by the Commission in
its review in 2005.

In addition to the provisions of paragraph 1 the

3.
Commission may, inter alia, bring forward:

— proposals taking into consideration the particular situa-
tion of captive fleets and the need to propose levels of
specifications for the special fuels they use,

— proposals setting levels of specifications applicable to

liquid petroleum gas, natural gas and biofuels.

(*) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41; Directive as amended by
L 278,

Commission Decision 2001/744/EC (OJ
23.10.2001, p. 35).

(**) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000, p. 57.
(***) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000, p. 55.
(****) OJ L 40, 13.2.1999, p. 49.
(*****) OJ L 44, 16.2.2000, p. 1.’;

590:1999 standards, as appropriate, if they can be shown
to give at least the same accuracy and at least the same
level of precision as the analytical methods they replace. In
the event
the permitted analytical
methods to technical progress is necessary, amendments
may be adopted by the Commission in accordance with
the procedure referred to in Article 11(2).’;

that adaptation of

9. Article 11 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 11

Committee procedure

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee
established in accordance with Article 12 of Directive 96/
62/EC (*).

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5
and 7 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999
laying down procedures for the exercise of implementing
powers conferred upon the Commission (**) shall apply,
having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/
468/EC shall be set at three months.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

(*) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55.
(**) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.’;

10. Annexes I to IV shall be replaced by the text in the Annex

to this Directive.

7. the following Article shall be inserted:

Article 2

‘Article 9a

Penalties

Member States shall determine the penalties applicable to
breaches of the national provisions adopted pursuant to
this Directive. The penalties determined must be effective,
proportionate and dissuasive.’;

8. the first subparagraph of Article 10 shall be replaced by

the following:

‘1.
The measurement methods to be applied in relation
to the parameters specified in Annexes I and III shall be
those analytical methods set out in European standard EN
228:1999. The measurement methods to be applied in
relation to the parameters specified in Annexes II and IV
shall be those analytical methods set out in European stan-
dard EN 590:1999. Member States may adopt the analy-
tical methods specified in replacement EN 228:1999 or EN

Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive by 30 June 2003. They shall forthwith inform the
Commission thereof.

Member States shall apply these measures from 1 January
2004.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain
a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a refer-
ence on the occasion of their official publication. The methods
of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member
States.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publica-
tion in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 3 March 2003.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

A.-A. TSOCHATZOPOULOS

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ANNEX

‘ANNEX I

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARKET FUELS TO BE USED FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH
POSITIVE-IGNITION ENGINES

Type: Petrol

Parameter (1)

Unit

Limits (2)

Minimum

Maximum

Research octane number

Motor octane number

Vapour pressure, summer period (4)

Distillation:

— percentage evaporated at 100 °C

— percentage evaporated at 150 °C

Hydrocarbon analysis:

— olefins

— aromatics

— benzene

Oxygen content

Oxygenates

— Methanol (stabilising agents must be added)

— Ethanol (stabilising agents may be necessary)

— Iso-propyl alcohol

— Tert-butyl alcohol

— Iso-butyl alcohol

— Ethers containing five or more carbon atoms per mole-

cule

— Other oxygenates (7)

Sulphur content

Lead content

kPa

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% m/m

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

mg/kg

g/l

95 (3)

85

—

46,0

75,0

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

60,0 (5)

—

—

18,0 (6)

42,0

1,0

2,7

3

5

10

7

10

15

10

150

0,005

(1) Test methods shall be those specified in EN 228:1999. Member States may adopt the analytical method specified in replacement EN
228:1999 standard if it can be shown to give at least the same accuracy and at least the same level of precision as the analytical
method it replaces.

(2) The values quoted in the specification are “true values”. In the establishment of their limit values, the terms of ISO 4259 “Petroleum
products - Determination and application of precision data in relation to methods of test” have been applied and in fixing a minimum
value, a minimum difference of 2R above zero has been taken into account (R = reproducibility). The results of individual measure-
ments shall be interpreted on the basis of the criteria described in ISO 4259 (published in 1995).

(3) Unleaded regular grade petrol may be marketed with a minimum motor octane number (MON) of 81 and a minimum research

octane number (RON) of 91.

(4) The summer period shall begin no later than 1 May and shall not end before 30 September. For Member States with arctic or severe

winter conditions, the summer period shall begin no later than 1 June and shall not end before 31 August.

(5) For Member States with arctic or severe winter conditions the vapour pressure shall not exceed 70 kPa during the summer period.
(6) Unleaded regular grade petrol may be marketed with a maximum olefin content of 21 % v/v.
(7) Other mono-alcohols and ethers with a final boiling point no higher than that stated in EN 228:1999.

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ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARKET FUELS TO BE USED FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH
COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINES

ANNEX II

Type: Diesel fuel

Cetane number

Density at 15 °C

Distillation:

— 95% (v/v) recovered at

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Sulphur content

Parameter (1)

Unit

Limits (2)

Minimum

Maximum

kg/m3

°C

% m/m

mg/kg

51,0

—

—

—

—

—

845

360

11

350

(1) Test methods shall be those specified in EN 590:1999. Member States may adopt the analytical method specified in replacement EN
590:1999 standard if it can be shown to give at least the same accuracy and at least the same level of precision as the analytical
method it replaces.

(2) The values quoted in the specification are “true values”. In the establishment of their limit values, the terms of ISO 4259 “Petroleum
products - Determination and application of precision data in relation to methods of test” have been applied and in fixing a minimum
value, a minimum difference of 2R above zero has been taken into account (R = reproducibility). The results of individual measure-
ments shall be interpreted on the basis of the criteria described in ISO 4259 (published in 1995).

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ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARKET FUELS TO BE USED FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH
POSITIVE-IGNITION ENGINES

ANNEX III

Type: Petrol

Parameter (1)

Unit

Limits (2)

Minimum

Maximum

Research octane number

Motor octane number

Vapour pressure, summer period (4)

Distillation:

— percentage evaporated at 100 °C

— percentage evaporated at 150 °C

Hydrocarbon analysis:

— olefins

— aromatics

— benzene

Oxygen content

Oxygenates

— methanol (stabilising agents must be added)

— ethanol (stabilising agents may be necessary)

— iso-propyl alcohol

— tert-butyl alcohol

— iso-butyl alcohol

— ethers containing 5 or more carbon atoms per mole-

cule

— Other oxygenates (6)

Sulphur content

Lead content

kPa

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% m/m

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

% v/v

mg/kg

mg/kg

g/l

95 (3)

85

—

46,0

75,0

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

60,0 (5)

—

—

18,0

35,0

1,0

2,7

3

5

10

7

10

15

10

50

10 (7)

0,005

(1) Test methods shall be those specified in EN 228:1999. Member States may adopt the analytical method specified in replacement EN
228:1999 standard if it can be shown to give at least the same accuracy and at least the same level of precision as the analytical
method it replaces.

(2) The values quoted in the specification are “true values”. In the establishment of their limit values the terms of ISO 4259 “Petroleum
products - Determination and application of precision data in relation to methods of test” have been applied and in fixing a minimum
value, a minimum difference of 2R above zero has been taken into account (R = reproducibility). The results of individual measure-
ments shall be interpreted on the basis of the criteria described in ISO 4259 (published in 1995).

(3) Member States may decide to continue to permit the marketing of unleaded regular grade petrol with a minimum motor octane

number (MON) of 81 and a minimum research octane number (RON) of 91.

(4) The summer period shall begin no later than 1 May and shall not end before 30 September. For Member States with arctic or severe

winter conditions, the summer period shall begin no later than 1 June and shall not end before 31 August.

(5) For Member States with arctic or severe winter conditions, the vapour pressure shall not exceed 70 kPa during the summer period.
(6) Other mono-alcohols and ethers with a final boiling point no higher than that stated in EN 228:1999.
(7)

In accordance with Article 3(2), by no later than 1 January 2005 unleaded petrol with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg
must be marketed and be available on an appropriately balanced geographical basis within the territory of a Member State. By 1
January 2009 all unleaded petrol marketed in the territory of a Member State must have a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg.

22.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 76/19

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARKET FUELS TO BE USED FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH
COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINES

ANNEX IV

Type: Diesel fuel

Cetane number

Density at 15 °C

Distillation:

— 95 % (v/v) recovered at

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Sulphur content

Parameter (1)

Unit

Limits (2)

Minimum

Maximum

kg/m3

°C

% m/m

mg/kg

mg/kg

51,0

—

—

—

—

—

—

845

360

11

50

10 (3)

(1) Test methods shall be those specified in EN 590:1999. Member States may adopt the analytical method specified in replacement EN
590:1999 standard, if it can be shown to give at least the same accuracy and at least the same level of precision as the analytical
method it replaces.

(2) The values quoted in the specification are “true values”. In the establishment of their limit values the terms of ISO 4259 “Petroleum
products - Determination and application of precision data in relation to methods of test” have been applied and in fixing a minimum
value, a minimum difference of 2R above zero has been taken into account (R = reproducibility). The results of individual measure-
ments shall be interpreted on the basis of the criteria described in ISO 4259 (published in 1995).
In accordance with Article 4(1), by no later than 1 January 2005 diesel fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg must be
marketed and be available on an appropriately balanced geographical basis within the territory of a Member State. In addition, and
subject to the review in Article 9(1), by 1 January 2009 all diesel fuel marketed in the territory of a Member State must have a
maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg.’

(3)