'Can't use red diesel'

THE European Union is attempting to stop boaters using red diesel, even where the tax has been paid.

Boaters taking their boats abroad have been fined for having red diesel in their tanks, even though the full tax had been paid and verified by documentation.

Open proceedings

The Commission is to open infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom for permitting red diesel to be used  for pleasure craft propulsion, notwithstanding the tax being paid.

It is in a letter to the Royal Yachting Association that the Commission states it has decided to start proceedings against the United Kingdom for permitting red diesel to be used in pleasure craft propulsion, as it 'undermines the Europe-wide system of fiscal marking, as set out in Directive 95/60/EC'.

Taken advice

The Royal Yachting Association has taken specialist taxation advice on the subject, and believed that such use of red diesel should not infringe the European Union Marking Directive, and that it could still continue to be supplied, and intends to challenge any attempt to ban the use of red diesel in boats.

The Royal Yachting Association’s Gus Lewis, Head of Government Affairs believes we are obeying the letter of the law, and promises a 'vigorous challenge' to any attempt to ban red diesel use for propulsion.

Should however, the European Union once again get its way, the only alternative will be yet another rise in the cost of boating as normal 'road' diesel will be the only alternative.