Different fuel labels in Serbia – Implementation of new EU directive on fuel labels starts today

Petrol stations in Serbia should start implementing the EU directive on new, uniform fuel labels. Beside Serbia and 28 EU member states this directive will also apply to Macedonia, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland Iceland, Lichtenstein and Macedonia while Great Britain will decide whether to implement the directive or not after Brexit.

– We expect that this directive will secure federal excise tax revenue, the drivers will know what they`re buying and those who are doing business fairly will be protected from those with shady practices, the vice president of the The Association of the Private Petrol Stations, Borivoje Tatic, said to Vecernje Novosti daily.

The directive came into effect on October 12 and the regulatory authorities are tasked for controlling its implementation in Serbia. In practice corresponding labels will have to be displayed on fuel-dispensing units and filler nozzles as well as on all vehicles manufactured and sold on these markets after October 11 of the current year.

Diesel fuel labels will be square and marked B7 (up to 7%) or B10 and will mark the percentage of biofuel, whereas synthetic diesel fuels will be marked XTL.

Petrol fuel labels will be round and marked E5, E10, or E85, depending on the percentage of bioethanol.

The value of ethanol is important because many car engines don`t react well to higher ethanol values which can corrode certain materials such as rubber, plastic or aluminum. It is estimated that in Germany, for example, 90% of all cars can use E10 without any significant issues. Judging by the current state, the most common petrol label on domestic market will be E5 which means that up to 5% of ethanol present in petrol is the least aggressive amount. CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas) labels will be diamond-shaped .

The EU directive defines the infrastructure for alternative fuels all across the EU. It deals with defining alternative fuels and their clearer presentation to the citizens.

Udruženje privatnih benzinskih stanica Srbije

EU directive on uniform fuel labels

excise tax on fuel

Borivoje Tatic

vice president of the The Association of the Private Petrol Stations

petro labels

XTL synthetic diesel fuel label

synthetic diesel fuel

E5

E10

E85