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- Boosting innovation and science
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- 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
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- 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
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- Assurance and Audit Committee
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- Continuing Order of the Senate
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- Regulating Australian fuel quality
- Applying to vary fuel quality standards
On this page
Applying to vary fuel quality standards
The Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 sets the fuel standards for Australia.
Fuels standards apply to:
- petrol
- diesel
- biodiesel
- autogas (LPG)
- ethanol E10
- ethanol E85
Read about the fuel standards for each fuel type
It’s an offence to supply fuel that varies from the fuel’s standard.
In specific and limited circumstances you can apply to supply fuel with different properties from those set out in the fuel standard.
Application process
To supply fuel with different properties than what's defined in the fuel standard, you must seek section 13 approval under the Act.
Request a section 13 application form
Request an application form by emailing section13.fqsa@industry.gov.au
The application form explains what you need to provide and shows examples to help you complete the application.
Submitting your application
Email your completed form to section13.fqsa@industry.gov.au
Once we’ve received your application, we’ll send you a tax invoice for the application fee: $5944. We can’t complete your application until you pay the fee.
Cost recovery implementation statement: Application to vary a fuel standard 2016 to 2017 [716KB PDF]
Application fee exemptions
You can request a fee exemption if you’re not from federal, state, or territory government.
Your request can be for part, or all, of the application fee. You can make a request for any reason, including if paying the fee would cause you financial hardship.
We have 14 days from receiving your request to decide whether to grant the fee exemption or reduction. You will receive a written response detailing the decision and reasons for the decision.
Assessing applications
We consider all applications against the Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2019.
We also consult with the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee (FSCC), with its members providing recommendations about whether applications should be approved, conditionally approved or rejected.
We compile the FSCC members’ advice, and provide a recommendation to the Minister (or delegate) about whether to grant the approval.
You will receive an email notification about the decision. If an approval is granted, a notice will be placed in the Australian Government Gazette. The notice will include:
- approval holder’s name
- approval time period
- variations to the fuel standard and parameters
- reasons for granting the approval
We will aim to assess your application as soon as possible. Timeframes will depend on the level of complexity of your variation request, and whether we need more information to make a decision.
Withdrawing your application
You can withdraw your application at any time before a decision is made about the approval.
If your application is withdrawn within 14 days of submission, and the Minister (or delegate) hasn’t considered the application, you will receive a refund of any application fee paid. If you decide to withdraw your application after 14 days, you’ll need to request an application fee refund.
Please contact us as soon as you decide to withdraw your application by emailing section13.fqsa@industry.gov.au.
Approved applications
You can find all approvals granted under section 13 of the Act.
If you hold an approval, you must follow the conditions described in your approval. Conditions may include:
- restrictions on how the fuel is used
- restrictions on where the fuel can be used
- reporting fuel volumes supplied under the approval
- providing your customers with written material about safe handling and storage
The National Measurement Institute handles monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure approval conditions are complied with.
Amending approvals
If you want to change your approval, you need to make this request in writing by emailing section13.fqsa@industry.gov.au.
Minor changes can include adding or removing regulated persons listed under the approval. Major changes include extending the approval period and updating varied parameters.
Unsuccessful applications
If you want to appeal, there are legal channels you can use to challenge the legislative and administrative decisions.
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal can review the following decisions:
- a fee exemption or reduction is not granted
- an approval is not granted
- an approval is granted but is different from the approval that you applied for
- an approval is granted with specific instructions
- an approval is revoked or varied
You can learn more about applying for a review on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal website.
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
Last updated: 8 December 2020
Content ID: 67234