Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
Is red fuel the same in the U.K. As in the US? Dyed for off highway use? As in no road taxes paid? On what basis are the Belgians issuing fines?
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Different interpretation of EU rules by countries is the short answer.
The UK has for some time used red
diesel for off road use only, farm tractors, building site
equipment, cranes etc. This also included
commercial and leisure vessels plus aircraft. The EU decided years ago that this couldn't go on and gave the UK some time to stop it and charge tax on fuel for
propulsion particularly for yachts and aircraft. The UK kind of ignored it for a couple of decades as too difficult.
However, eventually the EU put its foot down insisting fuel for
propulsion in yachts must be taxed heavily, so the UK came up with a fudge or compromise as civil servants are want to do. So on a tank full of red
diesel the yachtie declares at the point of
sale how much as a percentage he will use for propulsion and how much for
heating and
cooking which are not taxed or only lightly. UK Customs and Excise have agreed not to query a 60% propulsion and 40%
heating purchase for a yacht. Higher use for heating might be open to a challenge by customs though.
So now and it has happened in the past, Belgium which has a tiny coast of 40 miles or so will fine anyone with even a minor trace of red dye because they believe that red dyed fuel should not be used as its not correctly taxed and not for leisure use. 3ppm has been quoted which gets you a E500 fine.
Once the local marina and harbour businesses feel the pinch words will be said, however, Belgium always has a hung parliament so no one party has sufficient majority to sort anything out.
Pete