International Requirements and Modern State in Sphere of Motor Fuels Quality Control: Basic Principles of Monitoring and Control

Abstract

The chapter presents international requirements to the quality of petrol and diesel fuel regulated by European directives, standards, internal regulations, European specifications, including their implementation in order to comply with the provisions of the Association Agreement, with a view to Ukraine's accession to the European Community, and to create conditions for the acceptability of liquid fuels in the course of development of the free trade area. Such requirements include a comprehensive restructuring of the system of control and monitoring of the quality of motor fuels and liquid biofuels in Ukraine, including the introduction of effective levers and mechanisms for the implementation of special legislation, strategies and comprehensive programs to determine at each stage the competent executive authorities responsible for their implementation. The article defines the specifics and main elements of legal requirements of the institutions involved in some European Community countries which ensure the functioning of the European standard EN 14,274:2003 “Automotive fuels—Assessment of petrol and diesel quality—Fuel quality monitoring system (FQMS)” on their territory, namely, the organization of a system of modern monitoring and control over the quality of liquid fuels. In comparison with the national requirements of technical regulations, the article presents the environmental features of the parameters of petrol and diesel fuels regulated by international documents, including differences in the applied management solutions in the area of quality control, sampling and examination of liquid fuels, including the introduction and reporting of the results of such work to the competent authorities. The main areas of focus in the article are the prohibition of the sale of leaded petrol, reduction of emissions of toxic and other hazardous substances, introduction of oil refining technologies for the production and use of alternative fuels, and creation of a system of control and monitoring of the quality of petrol and diesel fuel in Ukraine, taking into account the experience of European countries, whose system has been in place since 2004. The requirements of such a system include internal and external control at each stage of production, putting into circulation, distribution, sale, use and storage (including for own needs), and apply to all business entities and competent executive authorities engaged in the relevant activities. In particular, in order to ensure that entrepreneurs comply with such requirements, stricter penalties are applied.