14th July 2014

European Commission to take UK to court over red diesel

The European Commission

is taking the UK to court for “not properly

applying” excise rules over red diesel.

According to a report on BBC News, the EC

is stepping up their opposition to current UK laws that allow the restricted

use of red diesel in recreational vessels.

Red diesel is intended for the use by

fishing vessels and can be up to 40% cheaper than normal fuel due to its lower

tax duty.

It is marked with a red dye to distinguish

it from standard fuel.

The EC said that some were breaking the

rules but that at some refueling points they had no other choice.

“Private leisure boat owners are often

in a situation where they can only purchase marked fuel,” said an EC statement.

“As a consequence, private leisure boats

may not pay the right amount of tax.”

UK boaters should follow these rules over

red diesel:

– When buying red diesel in the UK make

sure that you get a receipt marked ‘duty paid’ and keep them in a safe place onboard.

– Keep a record of the date of refueling and

engine hours as further proof that you bought the diesel in the UK.

– Red diesel should only be stored in the

main fuel storage tanks on your boat.

– Never purchase red diesel in a country

where it is illegal to do so. The RYA has published a rough red diesel guide for different

European Countries.