An amendment regulation was gazetted today to ensure motor vehicle biodiesel will meet the necessary standards.

Biodiesel is a form of renewable energy. It can be used to power motor vehicles in pure form or in blends with motor vehicle diesel.

The Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) (Amendment) Regulation 2009 will be tabled at the Legislative Council November 25. Subject to its approval, the regulation will take effect July 1.

The Environmental Protection Department said it is common practice to require motor vehicle biodiesel to follow international standards. This can boost consumer confidence and prevent excessive exhaust emissions due to poor biodiesel quality.

The regulation mandates the specification of biodiesel for use as motor vehicle fuel. Labels should also be posted at selling points if the biodiesel content exceeds 5%.

The department said manufacturers generally accept the use of motor vehicle diesel containing up to 5% biodiesel in power vehicles, but a higher content can cause incompatibility problems. The labelling requirement, also being practised in the EU and US, is to alert drivers to the potential incompatibility problem.

The wider use of biodiesel instead of non-renewable fossil diesel will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hinder global climate change, it said.