BSI slams DANN diesel • The British Standards Institution has
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
reacted angrily to the road transport industry's decision to set its own minimum diesel fuel specifications, describing the breakaway decision as a cause of mounting "concern and disappointment".
"Nonsense," claims the Freight Transport Association, which has joined forces with the Road Haulage Association to condemn the BSI for "overreacting".
The row follows last month's joint FTA, RHA, Bus and Coach Council and Institute of Purchasing and Supply move to set their own minimum dery standard, which followed the BSI's recent decision to allow the ignition quality of fuel to be reduced (CM 7-13 July).
The British Standards Institution says all four organisations were involved in a review of the BSI diesel fuel specifications and that they had accepted a "commitment to accept the final standard".
A statement from the BSI this week, however, says: "It is true that, unless required by legislation, no-one can be compelled to use a standard produced voluntarily by a concensus procedure. Nevertheless, if it had not been the intention of the interests concerned to abide by the Board ruling, the disputes procedure would not have been invoked, the Board panel would not have been established and the British Standard would have been withdrawn altogether, leaving the requirements for diesel fuel solely to market forces. "The alternative course would have been regrettable then. It would be all the more regrettable now that the revised British Standard is a more-precisely defined specification then its predecessor."
The RHA says: "We do accept the Institute's standard, but it is a minimum and we would like to see better quality fuel. It would be a shame if the BSI considered ending it."
o Oil companies have failed in two attempts to increase the prices of diesel fuel paid by bulk-buying road hauliers in the past months.
Suppliers increased the price of dery at the beginning of July but quickly had to discount it. The price was raised again at the end of July, but this met with considerable opposition.