Caterpillar® distributor Finning UK & Ireland has launched a Fuel Compliance Kit to make taking fuel samples simple and help operators avoid penalties from HMRC.

A ban has been introduced as part of the Government's objective to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and means that businesses falling outside of the new guidelines must instead use fuel taxed at standard rates.

Red diesel is essentially the same as regular white diesel but dyed to indicate its intended off-road use. In road vehicles diesel is subject to a duty of almost 58 pence per litre, where red is taxed at the far lower rate of 11 pence per litre. Contractors caught using the rebated fuel can face penalties equal to the duty avoided, be issued with fines of up to £250, or face seizure of the offending piece of machinery.

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Those making the switch will need to make sure they are fully compliant, with users of vehicles and machinery being advised to run down their existing stock and flush out the tank and supply lines until no marked rebate fuel remains.

"We understand there will be a period where companies are switching over and removing red diesel from their machines and storage tanks," said Ian Burton, Service Development Supervisor at Finning UK & Ireland. "We can help with this switchover by checking fuel for residual traces of red diesel using our Fuel Compliance Kit.

"A sample bottle of fuel from each tank is sent to our specialist laboratory, tested, and used to confirm the quantity of red diesel present (above 1-2 per cent), and if not, confirm that it meets government requirements. The Fuel Compliance kit is designed to make taking fuel samples simple for the company or operator, without the help of a service engineer."