Government releases emission regulations RIS

THE Australian Government, on behalf of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), has released the long awaited regularity impact statement (RIS) into outboard emission regulations.

The documents, titled Reducing Emissions from Non-Road Spark Ignition Engines and Equipment, are now available on the EPHC website at www.EPHC.gov.au.

The detailed report recommends Australia adopts US Emission Standards and puts forth 2012 as the earliest target to implement legislation. 

Furthermore, the RIS questioned the likely impact of adopting US emission standards on: The purchase price of products, consumer demand, and consumer choice.

The RIS also analyses the potential impact to manufacturers and distributors of meeting US Final Rule standards through a phased approach in comparison with a non-phased approach.

The legislation would result in the eventual phasing out of all two-stroke carburettor engines in Australia. However, existing two-stroke carburettor engines already imported into Australia, will not be affected.

The issue of outboard emission standards came to blows last year when “clean” outboard manufacturers Honda, Suzuki and BRP split from the Outboard Engine Distributors Association (OEDA) to form a new body , the Australian Marine Engine Council (AMEC). AMEC was calling for emission regulations to be brought forward to 2010, while OEDA sought a phased in approach to allow the industry sufficient time to adjust.

The departure was seen by some as a quick grab for market share, while others believed that clean engine legislation to match US and European standards, was long overdue.

Stay tuned to this website over coming weeks as Marine Business covers this issue in more detail.