reviewing aspects of the engine fuel specifications regulations 2011 discussion paper 59 pages a consultation document outlining various proposals to amend existing fuel specifications as delineated under the engine fuel specifications regulations 2011. proposals relevant to the tbt committee include those that are designed to align with international specifications maximum sulphur for petrol reduced from 50 mg kg to 10 mg kg by 1 july 2018 maximum oxygen content introduced of 2.7 percent mass for petrol blends with a maximum ethanol content of 5.0 percent and 3.7 percent mass for petrol with a maximum ethanol content of 10.0 percent. petrol blends with ethanol include mono-alcohols and ethers with a final boiling point no higher than 210su suc maximum methanol content introduced of 3.0 percent volume. the following stipulations for petrol blended with methanol would also be introduced the methanol component of any blend of petrol and methanol must contain a corrosion inhibitor co-solvent must be added the flexible volatility index maximum allowed for regular and premium grade petrol blended with more than 1 percent and not more than 3 percent volume methanol is 115.0 summer 120.0 autumn and spring 130.0 winter. petrol that complies with the previous seasons quality and that is stored in a filling-station tank to which fewer than 3 deliveries of petrol have been made since 6 weeks before the beginning of the season is regarded as complying with this specification for u to 6 weeks after the beginning of the season and the maximum vapour pressure allowed for regular and premium grade petrol blended with more than 1 percent and not more than 3 percent methanol is auckland and northland 72 kpa summer 87 kpa autumn and spring 97 kpa winter rest of north island 77 kpa summer 87 kpa autumn and spring 97 kpa winter south island 82 kpa summer 92 kpa autumn and spring 102 kpa winter. petrol that complies with the previous seasons quality and that is stored in a filling-station tank to which fewer than 3 deliveries of petrol have been made since 6 weeks before the beginning of the season is regarded as complying with this specification for u to 6 weeks after the beginning of the season. if petrol contains methanol greater than 1 percent by volume the seller of the petrol must ensure that the dispensing pum or container is clearly marked to display the maximum percentage by volume of methanol that the petrol contains which must be no greater than the limit set out in schedule 1 of the regulations and the words may not be suitable for all vehicles engines. check with the manufacturer before use. biodiesel blend limit in diesel increased from 5 volume to 7 volume minimum oxidation stability in biodiesel increased from 6 hours to 8 hours new standard for petrol blended with more than 70 percent and not more than 85 percent ethanol with the following specifications acidity as acetic acid 0.006 m m maximum to be tested using astm d1613 copper stri corrosion 3 hours at 500c no. 1 maximum to be tested using astm d130 ethanol 70-85 v v to be tested using astm d5501 final boiling point distillation 210su0 suc maximum to be tested using astm d86 inorganic chloride 1 mg kg maximum to be tested using astm d7319 or astm d7328 methanol 1.0 v v maximum to be tested using astm d5501 phe 6.5-9.0 to be tested using astm d6423 silver stri corrosion class 1 maximum to be tested using astm d130 solvent washed gum 5 mg 100 ml maximum to be tested using astm 3831 sulphur 50 mg kg maximum u to 31 december 2017 and then 10 mg kg maximum from 1 july 2018 to be tested using astm d5453 or ip 497 vapour pressure dvpe for regular and premium grade petrol blended with more than 70 and less than 85 volume ethanol the minimum vapour pressure allowed is 38 kpa and the maximum vapour pressure allowed is auckland and northland 62 kpa summer 70 kpa autumn and spring 80 kpa winter rest of north island 65 kpa summer 75 kpa autumn and spring 80 kpa winter south island 70 kpa summer 80 kpa autumn and spring 85 kpa winter to be tested using astm d5191 water 1.0 m m maximum to be testing using astm e203 or en 15489 legal clarifications to reflect original policy intent calculation of pool averages for aromatics in petrol is to be clarified so that in any six month period the average aromatic content does not exceed 42 volume. consequential amendments the maximum density for diesel blended with more than 1 and not more than 7 volume fatty acid methyl esters is increased to 854 kg msu3 su maximum sulphur level in ethanol reduced to 10 mg kg by 1 july 2018