Benzene in Gasoline Regulations
This regulation, published on November 26, 1997, prohibits the supply after July 1, 1999 of gasoline that contains benzene at a concentration exceeding 1.0% by volume. It also prohibits the sale or the offer for sale of gasoline that contains benzene at a concentration that exceeds 1.5% by volume after July 1, 2000 in the northern supply area, and October 1, 1999 everywhere else in Canada. The regulation also prohibits the supply of gasoline after July 1, 1999 that exceeds a benzene emission number of 71 during the summer, and 92 during the winter. The option of meeting the requirements on the basis of a yearly pool average is available.
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Regulations
- Benzene in Gasoline Regulations (Department of Justice) - includes the consolidated regulations which reflects the amendments (may not reflect recent amendments)
- Benzene in Gasoline Regulations (CEPA 1999 Environmental Registry) - includes the original regulations and amendments
- Benzene Emissions Number -- Calculation Spreadsheet
- Guidance Document to the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations with Ammendment (CEPA 1999 Environmental Registry)
The regulations include references to sampling and test method standards which are available from the Canadian General Standards Board and the American Society for Testing Materials
Reporting Forms
Schedule 2 of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations
Registration Form for a Manufacturer, Blender or Importer of Gasoline
This schedule is a form that sets out the information that is required to be reported by manufacturers, blenders and importers under section 7 of the regulations. The information to be provided includes typical annual volumes, facility location of refineries and blending facilities, and usual port of entry and mode of importation for importers
For further information regarding this schedule and reporting requirements, please refer to section 7 of the Guidance document: http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/documents/regs/q_a_benz/toc.cfm for the regulations. You may also contact Environment Canada at ogeb@ec.gc.ca.
Schedule 3 of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations
Report on Composition of Gasoline
This schedule is a form that sets out the information on gasoline composition that is required to be reported by manufacturers, blenders and importers under section 8 of the regulations. The information to be provided includes volume and number of batches supplied, oxygenates added, and maximum and average value of the benzene emissions number and the model parameters.
For further information regarding this schedule and reporting requirements, please refer to section 8 of the Guidance document http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/documents/regs/q_a_benz/toc.cfm for the regulations. You may also contact Environment Canada at ogeb@ec.gc.ca.
- Reporting form (pdf format) - "Benzene in Gasoline Regulations"
-
Benzene Emissions Number -- Calculation Spreadsheet
- html format
- Excel file (22KB)
Methods for Sampling and Analysis
The Benzene in Gasoline Regulations include provisions that allow for alternative sampling or analysis methods to be used by a primary supplier for reporting purposes. A primary supplier proposing to use an equivalent test method for reporting purposes must provide to Environment Canada at least 60 days notice before using the method, a description of the method and evidence that it is equivalent to the reference method. Where the sampling or analysis methods being used at a site have been demonstrated as equivalent methods pursuant to section 6 of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations, those methods can also be used for reporting purposes under the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations. Please refer to both regulations for specific requirements.
The following table summarizes those methods for which equivalency for reporting purposes has been demonstrated in accordance with the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations. Primary suppliers proposing to use these methods for reporting under the Regulations may refer to this information in respect to the evidence of equivalency requirements of section 6 of the Regulations. (Note that information in the table regarding equivalent test methods is subject to change and therefore should be verified with Environment Canada prior to such use)
| Section 5: Reference Methods Specified in Regulation [1] | Section 6: Equivalent Methods | Date of EC's Acknowledgement Letter |
|---|---|---|
|
5(1) Sampling by any ASTM method set out in section 7 of CAN/CGSB 3.5-99 Unleaded Automotive Gasoline Includes:
|
Consumers' Co-operative Refineries Limited In-house method |
June 16, 1999 |
| Shell In-house Sampling Method | August 28, 2002 | |
|
5(2) Concentration of benzene and aromatics in gasoline CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 14.3-94 |
Imperial Oil In-house Method ECIM 2024 |
April 28, 1999 |
| Shell In-house Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis | June 14, 1999 | |
|
5(3) Concentration of olefins in gasoline CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 14.3-94 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
5(4) Concentration of sulphur in gasoline [2] ASTM D5453-00 |
ASTM D7039 Equivalency valid only for sulphur concentrations in the range of 2 to 500 mg/kg |
October 25, 2005 |
|
5(5) Vapour pressure of gasoline at 37.8 °C ASTM D5191-01 |
ASTM D5482 |
November 17, 1998 |
| Imperial Oil House methodQ5482 | March 2001 | |
|
5(6) Evaporative fractions of gasoline @ 93.3 °C (E200) and 148.9 °C (E300) ASTM D86-01 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
5(7) Concentration of oxygen in gasoline CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 14.3-94 Standard Test Method for the Identification of Hydrocarbon Components in Automotive Gasoline Using Gas Chromatography |
ASTM D4815 |
January 26, 1999 |
|
5(8) Concentration of benzene and aromatics in oxygenates CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 14.3-94 |
Imperial Oil In-house Method ECIM 2024 |
April 28, 1999 |
|
5(9) Concentration of benzene and aromatics in butane ASTM D2163-91 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
5(10) Concentration of sulphur in oxygenates [3] ASTM D5453-00 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
5(11) Concentration of sulphur in butane ASTM D6667-01 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A indicates that Environment Canada has not sent acknowledgment letters recognizing the equivalency for these reference methods.
[1] Subsection 1(2) of the Regulations automatically incorporates amendments to the reference methods.
[2] October 8, 2003 amendments to subsection 5(4) of the Regulations changed the test method for sulphur in gasoline to ASTM D5453-00, Standard Test Method for Determination of Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Motor Fuels and Oils by Ultraviolet Fluorescence from CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 16.1-98, Sulphur in Gasoline by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF).
May 26, 1999 amendments to subsection 5(4) of the Regulations changed the test method for sulphur in gasoline to CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 16.1-98, Sulphur in Gasoline by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF) from ASTM D2622-94, Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by X-Ray Spectrometry. Prior to the amendments, Environment Canada had sent acknowledgment letters recognizing the equivalency of ASTM D5453 and CGSB 3.0 No. 16.1-98 to ASTM D2622.
[3] October 8, 2003 amendments to subsection 5(10) of the Regulations changed the test method for sulphur in oxygenates to ASTM D5453-00, Standard Test Method for Determination of Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Motor Fuels and Oils by Ultraviolet Fluorescence from ASTM D2622-94, Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by X-Ray Spectrometry . Prior to the amendments, Environment Canada had sent acknowledgment letters recognizing the equivalency of CGSB 3.0 No. 16.1-98 Sulphur in Gasoline by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF) to ASTM D2622.
Annual Reports
- Benzene in Canadian Gasoline: Report on the Effect of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations 2004 Report html; PDF format (687 Kb)
- Benzene in Canadian Gasoline: Report on the Effect of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations 2003 Report html; PDF format (687 Ko)
- Benzene in Canadian Gasoline: Report on the Effect of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations 2002 Report html; PDF format (714 Ko)
- Benzene in Canadian Gasoline: Report on the Effect of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations 2001 Report html; PDF format (152 Ko)
- Benzene in Canadian Gasoline: Report on the effect of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations - 2000 Summary (html)
- Benzene in Canadian Gasoline: Report on the Effect of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations - 1999 Summary (html)
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