New E15 label will better inform consumers

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released new specifications for a label that will be displayed at all fuel pumps dispensing petrol blended with 15% ethanol (E15).

The new orange and black label will include information about which vehicles can use E15. It will also discourage the use of E15 in cars manufactured before 2011, motorbikes and boats, as well as in petrol-powered tools such as lawnmowers and chainsaws.

'EPA's final label is more informative than their initial label, which seemed inflammatory,' says Brain Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). 'We remain concerned EAP feels it must say E15 may damage some motor vehicles without the evidence to prove that, however.'

The new label was designed with input from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and therefore features some elements from the FTC's existing labels for alternative fuels.