Selling or using fuels
Do you sell fuels? You must comply with rules and regulations with regard to the environment. You can find these rules in the Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit). You also have to comply with rules and regulations with regard to safety. Also, you must supply alternative fuels.
Regulations for soil and air
Do you sell fuels? You must prevent fuels from entering the soil and you must also prevent emissions from the fuels into the air. You have to comply with rules for environmental protection and safe discharge:
- You must have a liquid-proof floor or a liquid-resistant floor. You must collect wastewater in a safe way (soil regulations, in Dutch).
- You have to comply with rules for safe discharge (in Dutch). For example, the wastewater may only contain a certain amount of oil or undissolved substances.
- You must have a vapour recovery system that reduces the emission of vapours into the atmosphere (air regulations, in Dutch). This system has to meet certain requirements.
Safety regulations
When you work with fuels, there is a risk of fire and explosions. If you supply fuels, you have to meet safety regulations (in Dutch). There are requirements for among others:
- flame resistant facilities
- emergency stop facilities
Extra regulations apply to the delivery of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG, in Dutch) and Compressed Natural Gas, (CNG, aardgas, in Dutch):
- the construction, installation, and operation of an LPG or CNG delivery installation
- inspections, checks, and maintenance of the LPG or CNG delivery installation
Permits
You need an environmental permit for:
- a filling station for LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) or hydrogen
- a filling station for LPG
- an unmanned petrol station less than 20 metres from houses or other vulnerable objects
You can apply for an environmental permit at the Service counter all-in-one permit for physical aspects' website (Omgevingsloket online, OLO, in Dutch).
Please note: the regulations for permits will change (in Dutch) as a result of the new Environment and Planning act.
Biofuels
Is your business licensed to supply road transport fuels? You must use a certain percentage of renewable energy. This can be achieved by supplying biofuels. Biofuels are made from plant material or waste. You must use the Energy for Transport Registry to register the fuel deliveries, as well as the annual and reduction obligations.
E10 petrol
Do you own a petrol station with 2 or more filling installations (pumps)? At least half of the nozzles should supply E10 petrol. E10 is a blend of 90% regular unleaded and 10% ethanol. For the other half of the nozzles you may choose which fuel to supply. Owners of petrol stations with just one petrol pump can choose which type of petrol they sell.
Stickers
All petrol stations should have labels on their pumps stating the type of fuel. This way customers will know which type of fuel is available. New vehicles also bear labels stating the type of fuel the vehicle requires.
Fuel price comparison
Do you own or operate a petrol station? You must show a fuel price comparison (in Dutch). The comparison shows the average price per 100 km of 6 types of fuel:
- electricity
- green gas
- hydrogen
- LPG
- diesel
- petrol (gasoline)
Biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, or biogas will not be shown in the comparison as their fuel consumption is not determined.
Organic halogen compounds in fuels
Fuels and raw materials for fuels may only contain certain levels of organic halogen compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Please note: Technical requirements for the organic halogen content of (raw materials for) fuels in the Netherlands differ from those of other EU Member States. If a (raw material for) fuel is already permitted in another EU Member State, the Dutch government may only prohibit its sale in the Netherlands in exceptional cases.