Re: Red diesel only in Uk waters from 1 April (not a joke !)

[Anonymous]

Even more from the RYA, issued on 23 rd Feb 2012

The RYA is insisting that the government’s new red diesel proposals will not make it illegal to use marked fuel in international waters.

On Monday the Treasury announced new legislation that will force sailors buying red diesel from 1 April to declare that it will be only be used in UK waters.

The economic secretary to the Treasury, Chloe Smith, said the changes would ‘ensure that red diesel can continue to be used as fuel for propelling private pleasure craft in UK coastal waters and on the inland waterways in accordance with current procedures’.

But in a statement the RYA has said that it is not illegal to use red diesel for ‘propelling private pleasure craft in international waters’, but the proposals give the impression that it is.

Gus Lewis, the RYA’s head of government affairs, said: ‘There is nothing in the government’s proposals that would actually make the use of marked red diesel for propelling a private pleasure craft outside UK waters unlawful.

‘However, what it is attempting to do is to make recreational boaters sign a declaration acknowledging a legal situation that doesn’t exist under UK law.

‘The RYA cannot support this proposed amendment to the Hydrocarbon Oils Duties Act 1979. I have been in contact with HMRC today about the consultation documents and will keep boaters informed of progress.’