REVIEW ON BIODIESEL STANDARDIZATION WORLD-WIDE
Prepared for
IEA Bioenergy Task 39, Subtask „Biodiesel“
Prepared by
BLT Wieselburg, www.blt.bmlfuw.gv.at
Heinrich Prankl Werner Körbitz Martin Mittelbach Manfred Wörgetter
IEA Bioenergy May 2004
REVIEW ON BIODIESEL STANDARDIZATION WORLD-WIDE
Prepared for
IEA Bioenergy Task 39, Subtask „Biodiesel“
Prepared by
BLT Wieselburg, www.blt.bmlfuw.gv.at
Heinrich PRANKL BLT – Federal Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wieselburg, Austria Werner KÖRBITZ ABI – Austrian Biofuels Institute, Vienna, Austria
Martin MITTELBACH Institute of Chemistry – University Graz, Austria
Manfred WÖRGETTER BLT – Federal Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wieselburg, Austria
With contributions from:
Steve HOWELL MARC IV, USA Daniel SHEEDY Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage Renè PIGEON Natural Resources Canada Luiz P. RAMOS Universidade Federal do Paraná Rua Francisco H. dos Santos, Brazil Claudia REMSCHMIDT Institute of Chemistry – University Graz, Austria
May 2004
Published by:
Manfred Wörgetter BLT – Bundesanstalt für Landtechnik Federal Institute of Agricultural Engineering Rottenhauserstr. 1, A 3250 Wieselburg [email protected]
Editorial
IEA Bioenergy, an international collaboration in Bioenergy, aims to accelerate the use of environmentally sound and cost-competitive bioenergy on a sustainable basis, and thereby achieve a substantial contribution to future energy demands. (www.ieabioenergy.com/).
The main objectives of Task 39 “Liquid Biofuels” are to work jointly with governments and industry to identify and eliminate non-technical environmental and institutional barriers which impede the use of liquid fuels from biomass in the transportation sector, and to identify remaining technological barriers to Liquid Biofuels technologies. IEA Bioenergy Task 39 "Liquid Biofuels" is currently composed of 10 countries (Austria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden, USA and UK) interested in working together to successfully introduce biofuels for transportation into the marketplace. This Task reviews both technical and policy/regulatory issues and provides participants with comprehensive information that will assist them with the development and deployment of biofuels for motor fuel use www.forestry.ubc.ca/task39/GT4/Frames/home.html). The extent to which biofuels have entered the marketplace varies significantly by country. The reasons for these differences are complex and include a variety of policy and market issues. While biofuels offer significant potential, the prices of biofuels are higher than their petroleum equivalents. As a result, biofuels have been successfully implemented only in those countries that have recognized the value of those benefits and have made appropriate policy decisions to support biofuels (www.liquid-biofuels.com/FinalReport1.html).
Standardization is one of the key issues in the development of new products and markets. For the producers and distributors of Biodiesel, standards are a vital necessity. Legislators and authorities need approved standards for the evaluation of safety and environmental risks. The development of engines, vehicles and equipment is based on the properties of the fuel; the range of the fuel parameters must be limited. The development of a new standard is complex and long-lasting task even on the national level. International standardization is the result of the co-operation of national standardization organization and enables the development international markets. In respect of this aspects BLT has initiated this review on Biodiesel Standardization worldwide. The study describes general aspects of the standardization process, important regulations and recommendations as well as and the state of the standardization in Europe, North America, Australia and Brazil. Thanks to the good contacts of the authors it reflects the actual state of the Biodiesel standardization worldwide. Standardization of biofuels is “work in progress”, and therefore the Liquid Biofuels Task will try to continue the monitoring of the development.
M. Wörgetter Wieselburg, 06 May. 04
Content Page 1
Content
1 General aspects of standardization...... 3
1.1 Introduction ...... 3 1.2 Standardization in CEN...... 3 1.2.1 Aims and principles of creating new standards ...... 4 1.2.2 Levels of standardization ...... 4 1.2.3 Types of European standards and technical specifications...... 5 1.2.4 European policy of standardization...... 5 1.2.5 The organization of CEN ...... 6 1.2.6 The CEN process ...... 8 1.3 Standardization in United States of America ...... 12 1.3.1 ASTM in general ...... 12 1.3.2 Development of standards...... 13 1.3.3 Mission Statement ...... 12 1.3.4 Principles ...... 13 1.4 Standardization at ISO...... 14 1.4.1 ISO in general...... 14 1.4.2 ISO standardization process...... 14 1.4.3 ISO strategies ...... 14
2 Important regulations and recommendations for transport fuels...... 16
2.1 European Directive on fuel quality ...... 16 2.2 The World-Wide Fuel Charter ...... 20 2.2.1 Overview...... 20 2.2.2 Members list ...... 21 2.2.3 Definition of categories and related diesel fuel properties: ...... 21 2.2.4 Technical background for harmonized diesel fuel recommendations...... 22 2.2.5 Fatty-acid-methyl-ester (FAME)...... 23
3 Development of Biodiesel standards...... 25
3.1 History of biodiesel standardization in Europe...... 25 3.1.1 Austria...... 25 3.1.2 Czech Republic...... 25 3.1.3 France...... 25 3.1.4 Germany ...... 25 3.1.5 Italy ...... 26 3.1.6 Sweden...... 26 3.2 Biodiesel standardization in CEN...... 26 3.2.1 CEN/TC19/WG24: Specification of automotive diesel / Task Force ‘Biodiesel’27 3.2.2 CEN/TC19/WG25: Specification of FAME used as fuel for heating ...... 28 3.2.3 CEN/TC19/WG26: Verification of FAME related fuel test methods ...... 28 3.2.4 CEN/TC307/WG1: Test methods on FAME ...... 28 3.3 Biodiesel standardization in United States...... 29 3.3.1 Introduction...... 29 3.3.2 Biodiesel Markets in the United States: Background and History...... 29 3.3.3 US Biodiesel standard history...... 30 3.3.4 Biodiesel standard ...... 31 3.3.5 Pure specification vs. blend specification ...... 33 3.3.6 Provisional ASTM biodiesel standard ...... 34
IEA Bioenergy – Liquid Biofuels May 2004 Page 2 Content
3.3.7 After ASTM PS 121 ...... 35 3.3.8 Future ASTM considerations ...... 37 3.3.9 US biodiesel quality programs ...... 37 3.3.10 Standard harmonization...... 38 3.4 Biodiesel standardization in Australia ...... 38 3.4.1 Introduction...... 38 3.4.2 General aspects...... 38 3.4.3 Standardization bodies and working groups...... 39 3.4.4 Mechanism for decision and approval ...... 39 3.4.5 Initiatives and driving forces ...... 40 3.4.6 Current state ...... 40 3.5 Biodiesel standardization in Canada...... 41 3.6 Biodiesel standardization in Brazil ...... 43 3.6.1 Introduction...... 43 3.6.2 National Biodiesel Program ...... 44 3.6.3 Biodiesel standardization...... 45 3.6.4 Future perspectives ...... 47 3.7 Further Biodiesel specification activities ...... 48
4 Biodiesel standard parameters and limits ...... 49
4.1 Comparison of the requirements...... 49 4.2 Comparison of parameters and limits ...... 54 4.2.1 Density...... 54 4.2.2 Kinematic viscosity ...... 54 4.2.3 Flash point ...... 55 4.2.4 Sulfur content...... 55 4.2.5 Carbon residue ...... 56 4.2.6 Cetane number ...... 57 4.2.7 Ash content...... 58 4.2.8 Water content ...... 58 4.2.9 Total contamination ...... 59 4.2.10 Copper strip corrosion ...... 59 4.2.11 Ester content...... 60 4.2.12 Free glycerol ...... 61 4.2.13 Mono-, di- and triglycerides and total glycerol ...... 61 4.2.14 Methanol ...... 62 4.2.15 Iodine number, linolenic acid methyl ester and polyunsaturated FAME ...... 63 4.2.16 Acid number...... 64 4.2.17 Content of phosphorus ...... 65 4.2.18 Content of alkali and alkaline-earth metals...... 65 4.2.19 Oxidation stability...... 66 4.2.20 Cold temperature behaviour ...... 67
5 Summary and Conclusions ...... 69
6 References...... 71
May 2004 IEA Bioenergy – Liquid Biofuels General aspects of standardization Page 3
1 GENERAL ASPECTS OF STANDARDIZATION
1.1 Introduction
Standards are technical specifications for products, processes or services. They should be approved by all parties involved and should reflect the current state of the art. Standards guarantee work on an orderly basis in all areas of economy and administration by fixing terms and requirements and by establishing criteria for quality control, safety and testing.
ISO defines 'standard' as follows:
'Technical specification or other document available to the public, drawn up with co-operation and consensus or general approval of all interests affected by it, based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience, aimed at the promotion of optimum community benefits and approved by a body recognized on the national, regional or international level.'
ASTM defines a standard as a document being developed and established within the consensus principles of the organization and which meets the requirements of ASTM procedures and regulations. Full consensus standards are developed with the participation of all parties who have a stake in the standards' development and/or use [1].
Standards are drawn up in independent institutes of standardization and are available for the public. Basically standards are not binding but can become legally binding on a national as well as international level.
Standards are of vital importance for producers, distributors and users of biofuels. Authorities need approved standards for the evaluation of safety risks as well as environmental pollution. Independent lubrication oil producers are interested in a standardized fuel.
1.2 Standardization in CEN
Sources: NICOLAS, REPUSSARD [2], STAMPFL-BLAHA [3]
CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, was founded in 1961 by the national standards bodies in the European Economic Community and EFTA countries. Now CEN is contributing to the objectives of the European Union and European Economic Area with voluntary technical standards which promote free trade, the safety of workers and consumers, interoperability of networks, environmental protection, exploitation of research and development programs, and public procurement.
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1.2.1 Aims and principles of creating new standards
According to the definition quoted above a standard is aimed at the 'promotion of optimum community benefits' [2]. The expected advantages of standardization are for instance: • The promotion of quality of products, processes and services, • The promotion of economy, • The promotion of international commerce by eliminating barriers And, following from the last aspect • The promotion of industrial efficiency.
To be sure that standards are generally accepted and suitable for the practical application there are some principles of standardization: [3]
• Neutrality of teamwork (access and transparency): All parties affected by the standard should participate at all levels of the standardization process by sending experts to the meetings. • Consensus: The process of standardization should definitely result in a consensus. But European standards do not have to be accepted unanimously. • Publicity: Every draft is subject to a public objection process. • Coherence: Standards have to be consistent and unified on a European as well as national level. This means that conflicting national standards have to be withdrawn as soon as a European standard is published.
Standards come from the voluntary work of participants representing all interests concerned: industry, authorities and civil society, contributing mainly through their national standards bodies. Draft standards are made public for consultation at large. The final, formal vote is binding for all members. The European Standards must be transposed into national standards and conflicting standards must be withdrawn.
1.2.2 Levels of standardization
National standards: Central institutes of standardization in the individual countries are responsible for standardization on a national level. These institutes, which are mostly organizations under civil law, provide the infrastructural and organizational framework for efficient standardization work.
European standards: CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation), located in Brussels, is responsible for standardization on a European level. The 28 national institutes of standardization are members of CEN. The standards set up by CEN are basically binding in all member states. Technical Committees (TC), made up of representatives of the national Committees, elaborate these European standards and adapt them to the current state of the art. Basically European standards have to be included in all national standards. Conflicting national standards have to be withdrawn.
International standards: International standards are set up by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) located in Geneva. In contrast to European standards, ISO standards do not have to be adapted as national standards.
The technical co-operation between ISO and CEN was approved in 1991 (Vienna Agreement ISO/CEN). The aim of this agreement is to avoid the duplication of standardization work and
May 2004 IEA Bioenergy – Liquid Biofuels General aspects of standardization Page 5 to secure the highest possible degree of identity between European and international standards.
1.2.3 Types of European standards and technical specifications
Standardization processes on a European level lead to the publication of one of the following documents:
• European standard (EN): Standardization work is always aimed at developing a European standard. An EN must be transposed and applied on a national level. Divergent national standards have to be removed.
• Harmonization document (HD): If an EN is not possible because national differences have to be considered, an HD will be made available. In this case, a member is free to retain or publish a national standard dealing with a subject covered by the HD, provided that it has a technically equivalent content.
• European pre-standard (prEN): This document is drawn up as a prospective standard for provisional application in fields with a high degree of innovation.
Apart from standards according to ISO there are a number of other technical specifications or standardizing documents. The following table 1 compares these types with regards to drafting, adoption and application [3].
Table 1: Comparison of several types of technical specification and standards
Company Codes of practice Standards Public contract Regulations standard or professional specifications specifications
Drafting Company Members of a All parties All interested Public profession interested parties authorities
Adoption Company Members of a Consensus and Public authorities Public profession validation authorities
Application Company/ Business Business Business companies interests interests (public interests (voluntary) contracts) (compulsorily)
Public authorities may make these documents compulsory or refer them
1.2.4 European policy of standardization
Source: NICOLAS, REPUSSARD [2]
Free trade (and the removal of technical trade barriers related to it) is one of the basic principles of the European Union. Directive 83/189/EEC [4] is the main regulation on preventing technical barriers to trade in the Community. The objectives of the Directive are to create transparency in the field of technical standards and regulations, to prevent the creation of new obstacles to trade and to promote European harmonization and the emergence of European standardization if required by the Community. The latter aspect is
IEA Bioenergy – Liquid Biofuels May 2004 Page 6 General aspects of standardization carried out by following the mandate procedure enabling Community authorities to invite European standards institutions to draw up European standards.
The Commission is responsible for the administration of Directive 83/189/EEC. A Standing Committee including representatives of the member states gives assistance. These representatives are officially responsible for standardization policy on a national level. The Standing Committee is chaired by a representative of the Commission.
The New Approach to technical harmonization and standards (85/C 136/01 [5]) is an essential tool of the Community's harmonization activities. This approach rests on the basic assumption that standards should be referred to in order to define the technical characteristics of products. This means that directives that have to be transposed into national regulations are only harmonizing the essential requirements of products (e.g. safety, health,). Technical specifications, which are used in order to comply with these essential requirements, will be developed in conjunction with the standardization process, taking into account the stage of technology.
Therefore the responsibilities of each economic partner are defined as follows: public authorities are responsible for legal aspects and sanctions; economic partners are responsible for technology (standards) and for introduction on the market.
1.2.5 The organization of CEN Sources: www.cennorm.be [6], NICOLAS, REPUSSARD [2]
CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation) is the European Committee for Standardization. It is a non-profit-making international association of a scientific and technical nature registered in accordance with Belgian law and founded in 1961. The CEN Management Centre is located in Brussels and is responsible for promoting the activities of the association. CEN is a system of formal processes to produce standards, shared principally between 28 National Members, 8 Associate Members and two Counselors and the CEN Management Centre, Brussels. The national standardization institutes are the National Members of CEN. They make up the delegations to the technical committees, vote for and implement European Standards as national standards. Associate Members are broad-based European organizations, representing particular sectors of industry as well as consumers, environmentalists, workers, and small and medium-sized enterprises. They undertake to promote CEN and European standardization.
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Table 2: CEN members [6] Country Name Abbr. Austria Österreichisches Normungsinstitut ON Belgium Institut Belge de Normalisation IBN Cyprus Cyprus Organization for the Promotion of Quality CYS Czech Republic Czech Standards Institute (CSNI) CSNI Denmark Dansk Standardiseringsrad DS Estonia Estonian Centre for Standardisation (EVS) EVS Finnland Suomen Standardisoimisliitto t.y. SFS France Association francaise de Normalisation AFNOR Germany Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. DIN Greece Ellinikos Organismos Typopoiiseos ELOT Hungary Hungarian Standards Institution MSZT Iceland Standardization Council of Iceland STRI Ireland National Standards Authority of Ireland NSAI Italy Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione UNI Latvia Latvian Standards Ltd LVS Lithuania Lithuanian Standards Board LST Luxembourg Service de l'Energy de l'Etat Département Normalisation SEE Malta Malta Standards Authority MSA The Netherlands Nederlands Normalisatie - Instituut NNI Norway Norges Standardiseringsforbund NSF Poland Polish Committee for Standardization PKN Portugal Instituto Portugês da Qualidade IPQ Slovakia Slovak Standards Institute SUTN Slovenia Slovenian Institute for Standardization SIST Spain Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación AENOR Sweden Standardiseringskommissionen i Sverige SIS Switzerland Schweizerische Normen-Vereinigung SNV United Kingdom British Standards Institution BSI
Table 3: CEN Associates [6] Associates Name Abbrev. Chemical Industry European Chemical Industry Council CEFIC Construction Industry European Construction Industry Federation FIEC Consumers European Association for the co-ordination of ANEC Consumer representation in standardization Environment European Environmental Citizens Organization for ECOS Standardization Machine tools European Committee for Co-operation of the CECIMO Machine Tool Industries Medical Technology European Medical Technology Industry EUCOMED Association Small and Medium- European Office of Craft/Trades and Small and NORMAPME sized Enterprises Medium-sized Enterprises for Standardization Trade Union European Trade Union Technical Bureau for TUTB Health and Safety
CEN is governed by the General Assembly of its National Members. The Assembly is responsible for the budget, membership and appointment of officers. The Administrative
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Board is authorized to direct CEN's operations. It prepares the annual budget and membership applications. The Technical Board is primarily responsible for the co-ordination of CEN standardization work. It controls the standards program and promotes its execution by the Management Centre. The Management Centre assists the Secretary General in carrying out his statutory functions (maintenance of CEN's procedures, execution of Internal Regulations for standards work, management of the public enquiry, formal votes for European Standards,..). The Technical Committees (TC) are responsible for the drafting of European standards in well-defined sectors. The TC involve experts from all areas affected by the activities of CEN (industry, public administration, science, consumers, trade unions, etc.).
The structure of CEN Members (National & Associate)
Affiliates General Assembly (CEEC) EC, EFTA Administrative Board CENELEC, ETSI, ISO CEN Management Centre
Certification Board Technical Board
Technical European Committees organizations in liaison
Figure 1: The structure of CEN [6]
1.2.6 The CEN process
Because of the very large number of drafts that have to be processed within CEN an effective method of work and decision-making has to be applied. It also has to be ensured, that the work is quick and consistent and the basic principles of standardization (transparency, access for all interested parties,..) are maintained.
In each process three major phases can be distinguished: programming, drafting and adoption of standards. In figure 2 these phases are sketched.
Programming: Standardization processes can be initiated by four complementary channels:
1) National standardization institute: This channel is used for applications, which have generally been the subject of concerted consideration on a national level with the business interests concerned.
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2) European institutions (in practice mainly the European Commission, often supported by the EFTA): This channel is based on an agreement between CEN and the Commission; it is used for the application of standards, which come under certain European policies.
On demand the Commission works out a draft mandate for CEN. The Central Secretariat of CEN draws up a program, a precise draft timetable and also an estimation of costs. After consultations with the national institutions the draft mandate is validated as regards financial and human resources. The policy validation is done in the Standing Committee for Directive (83/189/EEC). After the validated draft has been accepted, a formal contract is concluded between CEN and the Commission committing CEN to carrying out the planned program.
3) Associated standardizing bodies: They have a high degree of independence in planning their own activities. CEN submits the draft standards resulting from these programs to an adoption procedure.
4) European trade associations: Only in certain cases.
Concerning channel 1 and 2 a process deciding the procedure for implementing the program follows. The decision is taken by the Technical Board or more and more delegated to the competent Technical Sector Board. One of the three complementary methods for preparing a draft European standard has to be chosen:
• Common work of CEN and ISO: Under certain conditions ISO can be entrusted with supervising the standardization work. • Adoption of a reference document: If a reference document exists (e.g. a finished ISO standard) which is probably acceptable, it can be adopted as a CEN standard. • Development of a standard in the Technical Committee: In most cases the responsibility for the development of a draft standard is entrusted to a Technical Committee of CEN.
It is important that the formal decision to start work on European standard is always accompanied by a status-quo decision: The members of CEN have to refrain from proceeding the work on the same subject done on a national level.
Drafting: The real standardization work is done in working groups by experts, mainly from the specific Committees of the members. Under the collective responsibility of the Technical Committee a draft standard is worked out in accordance with the rules for the formal presentation of standards. The draft standard has to be approved by the TC and is then passed on to the Central Secretariat. It is given a standard number and the document is called prEN No xx.
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National members and Mandates proposed e European organisations (EC, EFTA) phas .
ogr Technical board pr decision . and ppl A IOS-IEC-ASB Questionnaire European technical subcontracting procedure committee proposal e as ph
g Reference prEN ftin DIS - prEN document a r D
6-month public-comment stage e
tion phas Final draft dop A
Formal vote ase
on ph EN/HD iti spos an
Tr National standards (NS) - EN..., HD...
Figure 2: Creation of a European standard [2]
Adoption of a European standard: The prEN is passed on to the member countries and is submitted to public comment for six months. Then the comments are collected and evaluated. The Technical Committee responsible works out a final draft reaching a broad consensus.
The paper is submitted to a 'formal vote' by the national members. For the formal vote the members of CEN have weighted majorities (see Table 4).
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Table 4: Weighed votes [7] Country Votes until Votes from Country Votes until Votes from Dec 2003 Jan 2004 Dec 2003 Jan 2004 Austria 4 10 Latvia 4 Belgium 5 12 Lithuania 7 Cyprus 3 4 Luxembourg 2 4 Czech Republic 12 Malta 2 3 Denmark 3 7 The Netherlands 5 13 Estonia 4 Norway 3 7 Finland 3 7 Poland 27 France 10 29 Portugal 5 12 Germany 10 29 Slovakia 2 7 Greece 5 12 Slovenia 4 Hungary 3 12 Spain 8 27 Iceland 1 3 Sweden 4 10 Ireland 3 7 Switzerland 5 10 Italy 10 29 United Kingdom 10 29
National transposition of a European standard: The full status of a European standard is only acquired if it has been transposed and made applicable on a national level. This is an essential element of the European standardization program because it ensures that European standards are automatically integrated in to national standards. It should be noted that an adopted European standard has to be transposed and applied also in those countries, which voted against it. To ensure technical consistency divergent national standards have to be withdrawn.
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1.3 Standardization in the United States of America
Source: ASTM website [1]
1.3.1 ASTM in general
ASTM International was founded in 1898 and is a non-profit organization providing a global forum for the development and publication of voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services. More than 30000 individuals (producers, users, consumers, and representatives of government and academia) from 100 nations are the members of ASTM International. ASTM standards serve as the basis for manufacturing, procurement, and regulatory activities in over 130 varied industry areas. Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International provides standards that are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe. The ASTM headquarter is located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA.
1.3.2 Mission statement and strategic objectives
The mission is to provide the value, strength, and respect of marketplace consensus.
To be the foremost developer and provider of voluntary consensus standards, related technical information, and services having internationally recognized quality and applicability that
• promote public health and safety, and the overall quality of life; • contribute to the reliability of materials, products, systems and services; and • facilitate national, regional, and international commerce.
Strategic objectives:
1. To provide the optimum environment and support for technical committees to develop needed standards and related information. 2. To ensure ASTM products and services are provided in a timely manner and meet current needs. 3. To increase the awareness of the ASTM consensus process, the benefits of participation, and the value of ASTM standards and services in the global marketplace. 4. To strengthen both the national and international acceptance and use of ASTM products and services. 5. To make the ASTM process, resources, skills, and facilities available to the marketplace to accommodate it’s changing needs. 6. To ensure the fair representation and participation of key stakeholders in ASTM activities to secure technically sound standards. 7. To maintain ASTM's fiscal stability in order to fulfill the Society's mission.
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1.3.3 Principles
The principles necessary for the development of standards to meet societal and market needs are:
• Decisions are reached through consensus among those affected. • Participation is open to all affected interests. • Balance is maintained among competing interests. • The process is transparent. Information on the process and progress is directly available. • Due process assures that all views will be considered and that appeals are possible. • The process is flexible, allowing the use of different methodologies to meet the needs of different technology and product sectors. • The process is timely; purely administrative matters do not slow down the work. • Standards activities are coherent, avoiding overlap or conflict. • Standards are relevant, meeting agreed criteria and satisfying real needs by providing added value. • Standards are responsive to the real world; they use available, current technology and do not unnecessarily invalidate existing products or processes. • Standards are performance-based, specifying essential characteristics rather than detailed designs.
1.3.4 Development of standards
Standards development work begins when members of an ASTM technical committee identify a need or other interested parties approach the committee. Task group members prepare a draft standard, which is reviewed by its parent subcommittee through a letter ballot. After the subcommittee approves the document, it is submitted concurrently to the main committee and the entire membership of ASTM.
All negative votes cast during the balloting process, which must include a written explanation of the voters’ objections, must be fully considered before the document can be submitted to the next level in the process. Final approval of a standard depends on concurrence by the ASTM Standing Committee on Standards that proper procedures were followed and due process was achieved.
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1.4 Standardization at ISO
Source: ISO website [8]
1.4.1 ISO in general
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a network of national standards institutes from 148 countries with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO is working in partnership with international organizations, governments, industry, business and consumer representatives. Only one body per country is accepted for membership of ISO.
Each member institution has the right to take part in the development of any standard, which is considered to be important. The activities are carried out in a democratic way. Each participating member in ISO has one vote independent from the size. The development of ISO standards is based on market requirements. The principal activity of ISO is the development of technical standards, but ISO standards also have important economic and social impacts.
ISO standards are voluntary but may become a market requirement like in the case of ISO 9000 quality management systems. In few cases (mainly in health, safety or environment issues) ISO standards are adopted as part of a regulatory framework. Main principle of development of ISO standards is based on consensus among the interested parties.
1.4.2 ISO standardization process
The work is distributed among approx. 3000 technical bodies (technical committees, subcommittees, working groups,..). The result of a drafting process carried out by national expert delegations after receiving a consensus is a Draft International Standard (DIS). The DIS is circulated for comment and balloting. Many members have public review procedures for making draft standards known and available to interested parties and to the general public. The ISO members then take account of any feedback they receive in formulating their position on the draft standard. If the voting is in favor, the document, with eventual modifications, is circulated to the ISO members as a Final Draft International Standard (FDIS). If that vote is positive, the document is then published as an International Standard.
1.4.3 ISO strategies
In the ISO strategies for 2002-2004 [9] the key concepts underlying ISO’s operational model and business stance are expressed as: Value – Partnership – Optimization. In pursuit of these strategic goals, ISO will strive to • understand, serve and possibly anticipate market needs (value); • ensure the maximum participation and collaboration of all the relevant parties during the various stages of work within the ISO system (partnership); • improve continuously the core business processes of the organization (optimization), by securing and effectively using the resources required to meet the standardization needs of
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the 21st century, while making substantial use of information and communication technologies.
ISO has five major strategies expressed as commitments to: • Increasing ISO’s market relevance; • Strengthening ISO’s international influence and institutional recognition; • Promoting the ISO system and its standards; • Optimizing the use of resources, and • Supporting national standards bodies in developing countries.
Figure 3: ISO-structure chart [8]
IEA Bioenergy – Liquid Biofuels May 2004 Page 16 Important regulations and recommendations for transport fuels
2 IMPORTANT REGULATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRANSPORT FUELS
2.1 European Directive on fuel quality
Source: Gammeltoft, European Commission (2003) [10]
In the historical context one can observe early initiatives of the European Commission to improve air quality and reduce harmful exhaust emissions by regulating certain quality parameters of fuels for combustion engine driven vehicles. The following timetable shows the sequence of relevant Directives:
• 1975: Directive 75/716/EEC o Maximum sulfur content of gas oil 0,5 % from 1 October 1976, o Maximum sulfur content of gas oil 0,3 % from 1 October 1980.
• 1978: Directive 78/611/EEC o Maximum lead content in petrol of 0,4 % g/l.
• 1985: Directive 85/210/EEC o Obligation to reduce lead content to 0,15 g/l, o Benzene content of leaded & unleaded petrol 5 % max. (v/v), o Introduction of unleaded petrol from 1 October 1989.
• 1985: Directive 85/536/EEC o Maximum limits for oxygenates (ethanol, MTBE, etc.).
• 1987: Directive 87/416/EEC o Regular grade leaded petrol banned.
• 1993: Directive 93/12/EEC o Maximum sulfur content of diesel 0,2 % from 1 October 1994, o Maximum sulfur content of diesel 0,05 % from 1 October 1996.
In 1994 the so called “European Auto-Oil Programme” was initiated as a platform of the European Commission, the oil industry and the vehicle industry with the aim to establish an objective assessment of cost-effectives measures necessary to reduce road transport emissions to levels consistent with air quality objectives and to define a cost-effective vehicle & fuel quality package.
The political outcome of the “European Auto-Oil Programme” in 1998 was defined by
• 1998: Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels: o From 1 January 2000: Leaded petrol banned, Maximum sulfur content of petrol < 150 ppm,
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