Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au F2019L01280 In force Legislative Instrument

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made under section 22A of the

Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 25 April 2024

Includes amendments: F2024L00476

Registered: 13 May 2024

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 25 April 2024 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

1 Name

3 Authority

5 Definitions

6 Supply of ethanol blend from service stations

7 Other retail supply of ethanol blend

8 Supply of ethanol blend to retailers

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

1 Name

This instrument is the Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under section 22A of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.

5 Definitions

In this instrument:

ethanol blend means petrol that, as tested in accordance with the Fuel Quality Standards (Petrol) Determination 2024, contains more than 1% ethanol.

service station means premises at which petrol is sold by retail from a fuel pump.

6 Supply of ethanol blend from service stations

(1) This section specifies:

(a) the information about ethanol blend that should be provided with the supply of ethanol blend from a service station; and

(b) the way in which that information is to be provided.

(2) One of the following is to be clearly displayed on any fuel pump at the service station dispensing ethanol blend:

(a) the words “Contains up to x% ethanol”, where x is no less than the percentage of ethanol in the ethanol blend;

(b) the words “Contains y% ethanol”, where y is the percentage of ethanol in the ethanol blend.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), if the percentage is not a whole number, it may be rounded to the nearest whole number, with a number ending with 0.5 being rounded up.

7 Other retail supply of ethanol blend

(1) This section specifies:

(a) the information about ethanol blend that should be provided in relation to the supply of ethanol blend, by retail sale, other than from a service station; and

(b) the way in which that information is to be provided.

(2) Either of the following:

(a) before the ethanol blend is supplied to a buyer, the buyer is to be given a document that prominently includes the words specified in paragraph 6(2)(a) or (b);

(b) if the buyer is present when the ethanol blend is supplied, the words specified in paragraph 6(2)(a) or (b) are to appear on each container of ethanol blend so that the words can be easily read by the buyer.

8 Supply of ethanol blend to retailers

(1) This section specifies:

(a) the information about ethanol blend that should be provided with the supply of ethanol blend to a retailer; and

(b) the way in which that information is to be provided.

(2) At the time of the supply, the retailer is to be given a document that prominently displays:

(a) a statement that the ethanol blend may contain up to and including 10% ethanol; and

(b) a statement that the ethanol blend is the subject of this instrument.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub‑subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Name	Registration	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019	27 Sept 2019 (F2019L01280)	1 Oct 2019 (s 2)
Fuel Quality Standards Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Determination 2024	24 Apr 2024 (F2024L00476)	Sch 1 (items 3, 4): 25 Apr 2024 (s 2(1) item 1)	—

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Provision affected	How affected
s 2.....................	rep LA s 48D
s 4.....................	rep LA s 48C
s 5.....................	am F2024L00476
Schedule 1................	rep LA s 48C; F2024L00476 (amdt never applied (Sch 1 item 4))

Overview

The Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019, enacted under section 22A of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, addresses the need for clear and accurate information disclosure regarding ethanol blends in petrol supplied from service stations, other retail outlets, and to retailers. This legislative instrument aims to ensure consumers are adequately informed about the ethanol content in petrol, promoting transparency and consumer awareness. The Standard mandates specific wording and display requirements for ethanol content information at service stations, for documents provided before or during retail supply, and for documents accompanying supplies to retailers. The policy objective is to support informed consumer choices and to maintain market integrity regarding fuel quality standards. The Standard was developed and is overseen by the relevant legislative authority, which has the power to make such regulations under the parent Act. This instrument was registered on 27 September 2019 and commenced on 1 October 2019. The Standard was subsequently amended by the Fuel Quality Standards Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Determination 2024, which introduced changes effective from 25 April 2024.

Scope and Application

The Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019, made under section 22A of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, governs the information requirements for ethanol blends in petrol sold or supplied within Australia. This Standard applies to all petrol that contains more than 1% ethanol, referred to as ethanol blend. It mandates that suppliers, whether from service stations or other retail outlets, provide clear information about the ethanol content in the petrol. For service stations, the ethanol content must be displayed on the fuel pump, either as "Contains up to x% ethanol" or "Contains y% ethanol," with y being the exact percentage, rounded appropriately. For other retail supplies, the information can be provided on a document given to the buyer before the transaction or on the container if the buyer is present during the supply. Additionally, when ethanol blend is supplied to retailers, a document must be provided that indicates the petrol may contain up to 10% ethanol and that it is subject to this Standard. This legislation applies nationally across Australia and does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the definition of ethanol blend. The Standard can be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, as evidenced by the consequential amendments made in the Fuel Quality Standards Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Determination 2024.

Key Provisions

The Fuel Quality Standards (Ethanol) Information Standard 2019 primarily outlines the requirements for the disclosure of information regarding ethanol blends in petrol. Section 6 specifies that at service stations, the exact percentage of ethanol in the blend must be clearly displayed on the fuel pump. If the percentage is not a whole number, it can be rounded to the nearest whole number, with 0.5 being rounded up. For other retail supplies of ethanol blends, the buyer must be provided with a document that includes the required words, or the words must be on the container if the buyer is present during the supply. Section 7 and 8 address the information requirements for supplies of ethanol blends to retailers and other retail outlets, respectively. The Act imposes specific obligations on service station operators, other retailers, and suppliers of ethanol blends to ensure that the information about the ethanol content is adequately communicated. Service stations must display the correct percentage of ethanol on the fuel pump, and other suppliers must provide a document with the relevant words or ensure the words are visible on the container. Suppliers to retailers must provide a document with the specified statements about the ethanol content and the subject of this instrument. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or consequences for breach mentioned in the text provided. However, the requirement to provide accurate information about ethanol content in petrol suggests that failure to comply could lead to regulatory action under the broader framework of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. Such actions might include fines, enforcement notices, or other regulatory sanctions as determined by the relevant authorities. The lack of specific penalties in the provided text implies that any enforcement would rely on the general provisions of the primary Act or related regulations.

Area of Law: Environmental Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Regulatory Standards; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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