New biodiesel assurance programme may not be enough

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new biodiesel Quality Assurance Programme, but many are arguing that it may not be enough.

Both the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and the American Petroleum Institute(API) have commented on the new proposal, raising their concerns over the new proposal.

Charles Drevna, President of AFPM, said: "EPA's proposal is a welcome attempt to address the significant fraud in the biofuel markets, but will not solve the systematic problems caused by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuel mandates. "These mandates will harm consumers as the EPA forces the consumption of increasing amounts of biofuels that are incompatible with today's cars and refuelling facilities."

The decision to provide a defence for refiners against fraud has been met with positivity from the industry, however many companies are questioning whether it is enough to address the problem. The proposal also covers wider issues than just biodiesel fraud, which companies within the industry believe should be the main focus in order to successfully deal with the issue.

The proposal has been described by Drevna as 'merely a band-aid on a gaping wound' and many companies are in full support of a more drastic solution.