The Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No.79) were laid before Parliament on 22nd January 2007 and enter into force on 16th February 2007.

These Regulations implement, in England and Wales, matters concerning heavy fuel oil (except marine fuels) contained in Council Directive 1999/32/EC (OJ L 121, 11.5.1999, p.13 as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p.1)) relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EEC as amended by Directive 2005/33/EC (OJ L 191, 22.7.2005, p.59) of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels.

Key points include:

- Regulation 4 provides, subject to exceptions, that no person shall use any heavy fuel oil which has a sulphur content exceeding 1 per cent by mass.

- Regulation 5 provides that no person shall use gas oil with a sulphur content exceeding 0.2 percent by mass and, on or after 1st January 2008, with a sulphur content exceeding 0.1 percent by mass.

- Regulation 6 provides that the Secretary of State shall take all necessary measures to ensure that sampling of heavy fuel oil and gas oil is carried out. The Secretary of State must also check that the use of those fuels complies with the restrictions in regulations 4 and 5.

- Regulation 7 provides that it is an offence to contravene the restrictions on heavy fuel oil and gas oil in regulations 4 and 5.

- Under regulation 8, the Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (S.I 2000/1460) are revoked with a saving in respect of applications for permissions submitted under those Regulations.

- Schedule 1 provides for a local authority to grant permits to enable an operator of a combustion plant (who would not otherwise require a permit to operate the plant) to be exempt from the restriction on the use of heavy fuel oil in regulation 4.

The full text of the Regulations is available from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20070079.htm

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk (accessed 05/02/07)

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