Biofuels - European Parliament calls for motorist to put crops in their fuel tanks

12.00.00am GMT Wed 12th Mar 2003

Motorists will be encouraged to use green fuels made from farmed vegetable matter under new proposals voted through the European Parliament today. MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals which are part of a package of measures on recommending that by 2005 2% of road transport fuel be biofuel, increasing to 5.75% by 2010.

Today's vote in the European Parliament also clears the way for Member States to reach agreement on the second part of the biofuels package which would allow an up to 50% reduction in excise duties on biofuels. Welcoming the outcome of the vote,

Lib Dem MEP for the East of England, Andrew Duff said:

"Traditional fossil fuels are not only damaging to the environment but they are a limited resource. We must look to viable alternatives and promote their use at the earliest possible stage and that is what these proposals are aiming to achieve".

MEPs also approved a move by the Lib Dems to include pure plant biofuels in the list of biofuels to be promoted.

Andrew Duff said:

"Pure plant biofuels are extracted from oil plants such as rape seed and require very little processing before they are ready to use in conventional car engines. I am delighted that MEPs supported the Lib Dem amendment to ensure that they are promoted."

"This vote offers a real boost to farmers at a time when British agriculture is in the doldrums. It is a great incentive for farmers looking to diversify to provide crops in a way that will be beneficial to the environment."

Biodiesel shot to prominence last year when it emerged that people had been buying vegetable oil from supermarkets and adapting it for use in their diesel engines, therefore illegally avoiding fuel duty.

Today 's vote marks the conclusion of the European Parliament's Second Reading of the Ayuso-Gonzalez report on the promotion of biofuels in road transport on which the Parliament has legislative powers. The sister Directive on excise duties is awaiting agreement by the Council of Ministers.