Japan to mandate registration

The Japanese government plans to make registration mandatory for all firms involved in the production of bio-gasoline as part of an effort to prevent low-quality products from reaching the market. While bio-gasoline only accounts for 0.3% of gasoline consumption in Japan, it is projected to grow to 20% by 2010. The Japanese government is concerned that bio-gasoline containing a high dose of inexpensive ethanol will hit the market and cause breakdowns and accidents. Only refining operations are currently subject to the law governing the quality of petroleum-based fuels like gasoline and kerosene, but the Japanese government hopes to revise this legislation so that all firms involved in bio-gasoline production, including trading houses that mix gasoline and biofuels, will have to register. (May 26, 2007)