{"id":"F2025L00164","name":"Fuel Quality Standards (Conventional Diesel) Determination 2025","slug":"fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442745,"registerId":"F2025L00164-fast-fetch-1775957695624","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fuel Quality Standards (Conventional Diesel) Determination 2025","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nFuel Quality Standards (Conventional Diesel) Determination 2025\n\nI, Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, make the following determination.\n\nDated  16/02/2025\n\nChris Bowen\n\nMinister for Climate Change and Energy\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Schedules\n\n6  Fuel standard for conventional diesel\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nFuel Quality Standards (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2019\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Fuel Quality Standards (Conventional Diesel) Determination 2025.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument The day after this instrument is registered.\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 21 of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.\n\n4  Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 4 of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, including fuel.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nASTM followed by an alphanumeric code means the testing method developed under that code by the standards development organisation called ASTM International.\n\nbiodiesel has the same meaning as in the Fuel Quality Standards (Biodiesel) Determination 2025.\n\nconventional diesel means all fuel supplied or represented as automotive diesel, excluding paraffinic diesel.\n\nconventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend means a fuel that is a blend of conventional diesel and paraffinic diesel and has a density of between 765 kg/m3 and less than 820 kg/m3 at 15°C.\n\nNote: The density is to be determined in accordance with item 7 of the table in subsection 6(2) of this instrument.\n\nEN followed by a numeric code means the testing method developed under that code by the European Committee for Standardization.\n\nIP followed by a numeric code means the testing method developed under that code by the chartered professional body called the Energy Institute.\n\nmg/kg means milligrams per kilogram, and is equivalent to ‘parts per million’ or ‘ppm’ by mass.\n\n% m/m means per cent mass by mass, and is equivalent to ‘mass %’, ‘% mass’ and ‘weight %’.\n\nparaffinic diesel has the same meaning as in the Fuel Quality Standards (Paraffinic Diesel) Determination 2025.\n\n% v/v means per cent volume by volume, and is equivalent to ‘volume %’, ‘vol %’ and ‘% vol’.\n\n5  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n6  Fuel standard for conventional diesel\n\n (1) In relation to a parameter mentioned in an item of the following table, conventional diesel and conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends must comply with the relevant specification for that parameter mentioned in that item.\n\n (2) For subsections (1) and (6), compliance with the specification for a parameter is determined by using the testing method for that parameter mentioned in that item of the table.\n\n- Fuel standard for conventional diesel and conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends\n- Item Parameter Specification Testing Method\n- 1 Ash 0.01% m/m maximum ASTM D482\n- 2 Biodiesel 5.0% v/v maximum EN 14078\n- 3 Carbon residue—10% distillation residue 0.2% m/m maximum ASTM D4530\n- 4 Cetane index for conventional diesel not containing biodiesel: 46 minimum ASTM D4737 Procedure A\n- 5 Conductivity at ambient temperature for conventional diesel and conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends held by a terminal or refinery for sale or distribution: 50 pS/m minimum at ambient temperature ASTM D2624\n- 6 Copper corrosion—3 h at 50°C Class 1 ASTM D130\n- 7 Density at 15°C (a) for conventional diesel: 820–850 kg/m3(b) for conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends: between 765 and less than 820 kg/m3 ASTM D1298\n- 8 Derived cetane number (a) for conventional diesel and conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends containing biodiesel: 51 minimum;(b) for conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends not containing biodiesel: 46 minimum ASTM D6890\n- 9 Distillation—T95 360°C maximum ASTM D86\n- 10 Flash point 61.5°C minimum ASTM D93\n- 11 Filter blocking tendency 2.0 maximum IP 387\n- 12 Kinematic viscosity 2.0–4.5 mm2/s at 40°C ASTM D445\n- 13 Lubricity (a) for conventional diesel: 460 µm maximum; (b) for conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends containing 50% or more conventional diesel: 460 µm maximum(c) for conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends containing less than 50% conventional diesel: 400 µm maximum IP 450\n- 14 Oxidation stability 2.5 mg/100 mL maximum ASTM D2274\n- 15 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 11% m/m maximum IP 391\n- 16 Sulfur 10 mg/kg maximum ASTM D5453\n- 17 Water and sediment 0.05% v/v maximum ASTM D2709\n- 18 Water for conventional diesel and conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends containing biodiesel: 200 mg/kg maximum ASTM D6304\n\n\n(3) Any biodiesel component of conventional diesel must meet the requirements of section 6 of the Fuel Quality Standards (Biodiesel) Determination 2025 prior to being blended with conventional diesel.\n\n(4) Any biodiesel that is blended with a conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend must meet the requirements of section 6 of the Fuel Quality Standards (Biodiesel) Determination 2025 prior to being blended with the conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend.\n\n(5) Any conventional diesel component of a conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend must meet the requirements of this instrument prior to being blended with paraffinic diesel.\n\n(6) Any paraffinic diesel component of a conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend must meet the definition of paraffinic diesel set out in the Fuel Quality Standards (Paraffinic Diesel) Determination 2025 and the relevant specification for each parameter mentioned in an item of the following table prior to being blended with conventional diesel.\n\n- Requirements for a paraffinic diesel component of a conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend\n- Item Parameter Specification Testing Method\n- 1 Density at 15°C 765–810 kg/m³ ASTM D1298\n- 2 Derived cetane number 51 minimum ASTM D6890\n- 3 Distillation: (a) % v/v recovered at 250°C; (b) % v/v recovered at 350°C;(c) T95 (a) for % v/v recovered at 250°C: 65% v/v maximum;(b) for % v/v recovered at 350°C: 85% v/v minimum;(c) for T95: 360°C maximum ASTM D86\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nFuel Quality Standards (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2019\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original scope as a technical fuel quality standard. While it introduces new provisions for paraffinic diesel blends (expanding coverage to emerging fuel types), this represents an evolution within the established regulatory framework rather than scope creep. The repeal of the 2019 Determination and replacement with updated standards is a direct continuation of the Act's purpose under section 21."},"complexity_factors":["18 distinct fuel parameters with specific numerical thresholds in the main table","Conditional logic for different fuel types: conventional diesel vs. conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blends vs. blends with/without biodiesel","Nested cross-references to three other Determinations (Biodiesel 2025, Paraffinic Diesel 2025, and the parent Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000)","Dual testing method references (ASTM, EN, IP standards) requiring external technical knowledge","Density-based classification system (765-820 kg/m³ threshold) that determines which other rules apply","Percentage-based tiered rules for lubricity (460 µm vs 400 µm depending on blend ratio)","Pre-blending compliance requirements (subsections 3-6) creating sequential obligations"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination updates Australia’s legal fuel rules for conventional diesel from 2025, specifying 18 technical quality limits (notably sulfur 10 mg/kg and a 61.5°C minimum flash point), test methods, and a new category for conventional/paraffinic diesel blends. It allows up to 5% biodiesel if that biodiesel meets its own standard. The rules affect refiners, importers, wholesalers, retailers and benefit vehicle owners by protecting engines and reducing emissions."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the Fuel Quality Standards (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2019 (Schedule 1) and replaces it with a ruleset that (a) redefines the regulated product as “conventional diesel” excluding paraffinic diesel (s 4), (b) establishes separate parameter sets for conventional diesel, paraffinic components and blends (s 6(2) and s 6(6)), and (c) ties compliance for biodiesel and paraffinic components to new 2025 Determinations (s 6(3)–(6)). Those changes alter which products are regulated under which specifications and create additional cross-document compliance pathways."},"complexity_factors":["Numerous technical parameters with tight numeric limits (e.g. density, sulfur, cetane, lubricity) increase compliance detail (see s 6(2), items 1–18).","Multiple specified testing standards (ASTM, EN, IP) require certified laboratory procedures and record-keeping for each parameter (see s 4 definitions; s 6(2) testing method column).","Conditional and tiered requirements for blends and components create branching compliance rules (e.g. different specs where biodiesel present, and different lubricity/cetane thresholds depending on blend composition) (see s 6(2) items 4, 8, 13).","Cross-instrument dependencies: biodiesel and paraffinic diesel components must meet separate 2025 Determinations before blending, adding inter-instrument compliance paths (see s 6(3)–(6)).","Density-based categorisation of fuels and blends (definitions and table thresholds) requires accurate measurement at 15°C and affects which specification set applies (see s 4 definition of conventional diesel/paraffinic diesel blend; s 6(2) item 7).","Repeal and replacement of the earlier instrument creates transitional/regulatory-change effects for industry (see Schedule 1).","Commencement timing and administrative formalities are simple but must be tracked by suppliers (see s 2)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination replaces the prior automotive diesel rule and sets mandatory chemical, physical and lab-testing standards for “conventional diesel” and for blends with paraffinic diesel. Fuel producers, importers, terminals and distributors must meet numeric limits (for example density, sulfur, cetane and water) and specified test methods before sale or blending. Compliance shifts operational and testing costs onto suppliers and shapes which products and blends can be marketed."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025","history":"/api/acts/fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fuel-quality-standards-conventional-diesel-determination-2025/documents"}}