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Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
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- Regulating Australian fuel quality
On this page
Regulating Australian fuel quality
Poor fuel quality can damage the environment, vehicles, and our health.
We regulate fuel quality standards to:
- reduce pollutants and emissions
- facilitate the adoption of better engine and emission control technologies
- allow more effective operation of engines
The Australian fuel industry and fuel suppliers must meet legislative requirements:
Our department, together with the National Measurement Institute:
- sets fuel quality standards and labelling requirements
- assesses requests to temporarily vary fuel standards
- monitors fuel standards compliance
Consumer complaints
State and territory governments are responsible for fuel quality consumer complaints and compensation claims. Contact your consumer affairs regulator if you have purchased fuel that you believe has damaged your vehicle:
- NSW Fair Trading
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
- QLD Office of Fair Trading
- WA Consumer Protection
- SA Consumer Complaints and Advice
- ACT Fair Trading
- NT Consumer Affairs
- Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Tasmania
The Act doesn’t cover consumer protections. Our department cannot assist with compensation claims. We cannot assist with any other alleged consumer issues like damages or loss caused by poor quality fuel.
Making a fuel quality complaint under the national fuel monitoring program
You can contact us if you suspect fuel:
- has been adulterated
- doesn’t meet the standards
- has damaged your vehicle
We keep your information private, and we’ll factor your report into our fuel monitoring program.
To make a fuel quality complaint, please include details about the date, supplier, location, fuel type and email FuelQuality@measurement.gov.au.
National fuel monitoring program
Under the Act we monitor fuel quality at a range of sites and locations across the national fuel supply chain. We also monitor fuel suppliers who have received consumer complaints.
Fuel inspectors
Our inspectors may visit a fuel supplier at any time, and on any day of the week to:
- sample and test fuel
- assess fuel delivery documentation
- inspect fuel labels
- check any other requirements under the Act
The National Measurement Institute also regulates the wholesale and retail sale of liquid fuels. Read about trade measurement inspector responsibilities for selling liquid fuels.
We cannot share information about fuel monitoring activities, including fuel testing results. We do have authority under the Act to share this information with other government agencies. This assists with administrating and enforcing taxation and consumer protection laws.
Fuel quality standards and labelling requirements
The fuel quality standards apply Australia-wide. States and territories can set their own standards in addition to the Australian standards.
See the standards determination for each fuel type. The determinations outline parameter specifications, compliance timeframes (if applicable), and test methods for compliance purposes.
Petrol
The petrol fuel standard describes the parameters of our two most common grades of petrol, Research Octane Number (RON) 91 and RON 95.
Some additives are not included in this standard:
- Ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE)
- Tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME)
- Ethyl tertiary amyl ether (ETAE)
Potential importers or manufacturers of these (and other) additives should contact the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme to determine if the additive is allowed to be used in Australia.
Diesel
The diesel fuel standard describes automotive diesel, renewable diesel and synthetic diesel.
Biodiesel
The biodiesel fuel standard describes diesel derived from plant and/or animal matter.
Autogas
The autogas fuel standard describes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suitable for motor vehicles.
Ethanol E10
Petrol sold in Australia may contain up to 10 per cent ethanol (‘E10’).
- Read Fuel Quality Standards (Petrol) Determination 2019 (also includes ethanol)
- Read the Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019 for E10 labelling requirements
Ethanol E85
The Ethanol E85 fuel standard describes a fuel blend consisting of 70–85 per cent ethanol and 15–30 per cent petrol.
- Read the Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol E85) Determination 2019
- Read the Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol E85) Information Standard 2019 for E85 labelling requirements
Fuel importers, producers and suppliers annual statements
Under the Act, you must complete an annual statement if:
- you produce and supply fuel in Australia during the calendar year
- you import and supply fuel in Australia during the calendar year
- your fuel is subject to a fuel standard
- you’re a constitutional corporation or a Commonwealth entity, or you supply fuel in the course of constitutional trade or commerce
Submit your statement
- Email fuel.policy@industry.gov.au
- Write to: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Fuel Policy Section, GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601
Applications to vary fuel quality standards
Section 13 of the Act allows the Minister (or delegate) to approve the supply of a fuel that varies from the standard. The variation can only apply in specific instances and for a limited time only.
Read about applying for a fuel quality standard variation.
Find all approvals granted under section 13 of the Act.
Read more
- Read policy reform options for fuel standards in Australia
- Read the 2015 Review of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
Contact us
- Email fuel.policy@industry.gov.au
- Phone +61 2 6213 6000
- Write to us at: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Fuel Policy Section, GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601
See also
Last updated: 8 December 2020
Content ID: 66373