MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

ORDER

New Delhi, the 28th December, 1998

GSR 772 (E)- In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Central Act 10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order, namely.

Short title and commencement –

1) This Order may be called the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 1998.

2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the official gazette.

Definitions- In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires-
"adulteration" means the introduction of any foreign substances into motor spirit/high speed diesel illegally or unauthorisedly with the result that the product does not conform to the requirements and specification of the product indicated in Schedule I;

"Consumer" means a person who purchases products directly from and Oil Company and stores and utilizes the products for his own consumption and shall include his representatives, employees or agents;

"dealer" means a person appointed by an Oil Company to purchase, receive, store and sell motor spirit and high speed diesel oil whether or not in conjunction with any other business, and shall include his representatives, employees or agents;

"high speed diesel" means any hydrocarbon oil (excluding mineral colza oil and turpentine substitute) which meets the requirements of Bureau of Indian Standards specifications No. IS-1460 and is suitable for use as fuel in Compression Ignition Engines;

"malpractices" shall include the following acts of omission and commission in respect of motor spirit and high speed diesel:

adulteration,pilferage, stock variation, unauthorized exchange,unauthorised purchase, unauthorised sale, unauthorized possession,over-charging, sale of off-specification product"

"motor spirit" means any hydrocarbon oil (excluding crude mineral oil) which meets the requirements of Bureau of Indian Standard specification No. IS-2796 and is suitable for use as fuel in Spark Ignition Engines;

"Oil company" means- any person, firm or company authorized by the Central Government who is engaged in the sale of Motor Spirit or High Speed Diesel to consumers or dealers;

"Petroleum"- shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Petroleum Act, 1934.

"pilferage" means stealing or attempt to steal of product from a container used for transportation of the product or from a receptacle used for storage of the product and shall include any unauthorized attempt or act of tampering with such container receptacle;

"product" means motor spirit and high speed diesel;

"stock variation" means variation beyond the norms for permissible variation in stocks as given in Schedule-II;

"transporter" means a person authorized by an Oil Company, a dealer, or a consumer, to transport motor spirit or high speed diesel oil and shall include his representatives, employees or agents;

"unauthorized exchange" means transfer or receipt of the product from dealer or consumer to another dealer or consumer or to any other persons in contravention of the directives issued by the State Government or Oil Companies;

"unauthorized purchase" means purchase of the products from sources other than those authorized by the Oil Companies;

"unauthorized sale" means sale of products by a dealer or consumer to another dealer or consumer or to any other person in contravention of the directive issued for the purpose by the state Government or Oil Companies or in contravention of any provision of this order;

"unauthorized possession" means keeping of Motor Spirit or High Speed Diesel, in contravention of the provisions of this order, or keeping any petroleum product or its mixture, which can be used for adulteration, under the control of the dealer or any other person without valid sales documents issued by the concerned Oil Company".

"over charging" means, sale of Motor Spirit or High Speed Diesel by a dealer at a price higher than that authorized by an "Oil Company" from which the Dealer has purchased the product;

"sale of specification product" means, sale of Motor Spirit or High Speed Diesel by dealer of quality not conforming to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications, No. IS 2796 and IS 1460 for Motor Spirit & High Speed Diesel or also not in conformity with Schedule I

Product Supply and Transportation –

(i) The product from the supply point shall be transported by the transporter in a container or tank truck certified fit by the concerned authorities (Explosives and Transport authorities and oil company) to carry the product with accurate calibration as certified by the Weights and Measures authority and supported by delivery documents and deliver the same to the storage or dispensing point in the same condition as delivered to him by the originating supply point both in respect of quality and quantity.

The transporter shall ensure that the product is transported only in containers or tank trucks, which are properly sealed.

The dealer/consumer shall inspect such containers or tank trucks in which he receives the product to ensure:-

that the container or tank truck, including the seals are not in any manner tampered with; that the quantity and quality of the products are as per delivery documents issued by the Oil Companies and the quality of the product conforms to the requirements indicated in Schedule I. For this purpose, the dealer/consumer shall maintain a record of densities as indicated in Schedule I and keep samples of product or take such other measures, a prescribed by Oil Company.

No person other than the Dealer or Oil Company or their agent shall be engaged in the business of selling Product from underground storage tank.

No person shall sell or agree to sell any petroleum product or its mixture other than Motor spirit or High Speed Diesel, as specified in schedule I, in any form, under any name, brand or nomenclature, which can be and is meant to be used as fuel in Spark Ignition engines or Compression Ignition Engines.

No dealer, transporter, consumer or any other person shall indulge in any manner in any of the malpractices listed in Clause 2 (e) above.

The delivery or sale of motor spirit and high speed diesel oil shall be made by dealers of Oil Companies only from authorized retail pump outlets.

Power of Search and Seizure –

Any Gazetted Officer of the Central or State Government or any Police Officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) duly authorized by general or special order by the Central Government or State Government as the case may be or any Officer of the concerned Oil Company not below the rank of Sales Officer may, with a view to securing compliance with the provision of this Order, or for the purpose of satisfying himself that this order or any order made thereunder has been complied with- enter and search any place or premises being made use of or suspected to be made use by a dealer, transporter, consumer or any other person who is an employee or agent of such dealer/ transporter/ consumer or any other person, with respect to which there is reason to believe that the provisions of this order have been/ are being or are about to be contravened.

stop and search any person or vehicle or receptacle used or intended to be used for the movement of the product.

Inspect any book of accounts or other documents or any stock of the product used or suspected to be used in the business of the dealer, transporter, consumer or any other person suspected to be an employee or agent of the dealer, transporter or consumer.

Take samples of the product and/ or seize any of the stocks of the product which the officer has reason to believe has been or is being or is about to be used in contravention of this order and hereafter take or authorize the taking of all measures necessary for securing the production of stocks/ items so seized before the Collector having jurisdiction under the provision of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 ( 10 of 1955) and for their safe custody pending such production.

While exercising the power of seizure provided under clause A (iv) the authorized officer shall record in writing the reasons for doing so, a copy of which shall be given to the dealer, transporter, consumer or any other concerned person.

The provisions of section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) relating to search and seizure shall, as far as may be, apply to searches and seizures under this Order.

Sampling of Product –

The Officer authorized in clause 4 shall draw the sample from the tank, nozzle, vehicle or receptacle as the case may be to check whether density and / or other parameters of the product conform to requirements indicated in Schedule I.

The Officer authorized in clause 4 shall take, sign and seal six samples of 1 litre each of the Motor Spirit or 3 of 1 litre each of the High Speed Diesel, 2 samples of Motor Spirit (or one of High Speed Diesel) would be given to the Dealer or transporter or concerned person under acknowledgement with instruction to preserve the sample in his safe custody till the testing or investigations are completed, 2 samples of MS (and / or one of HSD) would be kept by the concerned Oil Company or department and the remaining two samples of MS (and/ or one of HSD) would be used for laboratory analysis.

Samples shall be taken in clean glass or aluminium containers. Plastic Containers shall not be used for drawing samples.

The sample label should be jointly signed by the officer who has drawn the sample, and the dealer or transporter or concerned person or his representative and the label shall contain information as regards the product, name of the retail outlet, quantity of sample, date, name and signature of the officer, name and signature of the dealer or transporter or concerned person or his representative.

The authorized officer shall send the sample of the product taken under sub-clause (2) within 10 days to any of the laboratories mentioned in Schedule III amended to his Order or such other laboratory as notified by the Government in the Official Gazette for this purpose, for analysis with a view to checking whether the density and / or other parameters of the product conform to requirements indicated in Schedule I.

Power of Central Governments to issue directions –

The Central Government may, from time to time, by a general or special order issue to any dealer, transporter or consumer or any other person, such directions as it considers necessary regarding storage, sale transportation and disposal of motor spirit or high speed diesel and upon the issue of such directions, such dealer, transporter or consumer shall be bound to comply therewith.

Provision of the order to prevail over previous orders of State Governments etc –

The provisions of this Order shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any order made by a State Government or by an Officer of such State Government before the commencement of this Order except as respects anything done, or omitted to be done thereunder before such commencement.

Repeal and Saving:

The motor spirit and high speed diesel (Prevention of malpractices in Supply and Distribution) Order, 1990 is hereby repealed.

Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Prevention of Malpractices in Supply and Distribution) Order 1990 shall, in so afar as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Order.

IS 2796:1995
SCHEDULE –I
(See Clause 2(a) )

 (Clauses 4.1.1, 4.3 and 4.4.1)
Sl. Characteristic Requirements Method of Test, Ref to No.
87 Octane 87 93 P: of IS Annex of Unleaded Octane Octane 1448 This Leaded Leaded Standard (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

xi) Water tolerance of gasoline alcohol Annex B blends, temperature for phase

To be carried out at the refinery end only, and the limit for the test is meant for products prior to addition of multifunctional additives, if used. However, the use of multifunctional additives does not exempt the manufacturer from meeting this requirement prior to addition of additives.

Under preparation. Till such time ASTM D 873-88 ( 4 hour duration) shall be followed. This test shall be carried out on the gasoline before addition of multifunctional detergent/dispergent additives, as these may interfere with the test.

Lead content will be phased out as per the government directives as and when they are notified and the requirements of lead content shall apply accordingly.

For unleaded gasoline test method ASTM D 5058/IP 352 shall be followed.

For the gasoline-alcohol blends, the dry vapour test method given in Annex A shall be followed.

From May to July in central and northern plains of India.

In winter it is expected that temperature may be lower than OoC in the northern hilly region and hence phase separation shall not take place till 100C

AMENDMENT NO.1 MARCH 1997 TO IS 2796:1995 MOTOR GASOLINES SPEFICATION (SECOND REVISION)

IS 1460:1995
Table 1 Requirements for Diesel Fuels

(Clause 4.2)

This limit is applicable prior to addition of cetane number improvers, if used. In case a value exceeding the limit is obtained on finished fuels in the market, ASTM D 4046 shall be used to establish the presence of nitrate containing cetane number improvers. In such case the present limit for carbon residue cannot be applied. However, the use of cetane number improves does not exempt the manufacturer from meeting this requirement prior to the addition of additives.

When a test engine is not available or when the quantity of the sample is too small for an engine rating ‘Calculatec Cetane Index by Four Variable Equation’ by ASTM D 4737 may be used for estimation of cetane Index by this method will be less than +2 Cetane Number for fuels having Cetane Number within the range of 32 to 56. It may be noted that this method is not applicable to pure hydrocarbons or fuels containing cetane improvers or fuels derived from coal. For arbitration purposes, the direct determination of cetane number by means of the standardized engine test shall be used unless the buyer and the seller agree otherwise.

Subject to agreement between the purchaser and the supplier, a lower or higher maximum pour point and CFPP may be required for special applications and geographical areas.

Winter shall be the period from November to February (both months inclusive) and rest of the months of the year shall be called as summer.

Diesel fuel for naval applications including Merchant navy and fishing vessels of 12 meters and above in length shall have a flash point of 660 C Min, when tested by the method prescribed in IS 1448 (P:21) :1970.

Total sulpher content for HSD shall stand automatically revised as per the following schedule; although efforts will be made by the oil companies to reduce sulphur content below 1.0 percent by mass before 1998:

This test shall be carried out only at the refinery or manufacturer’s end and the limit for this test is meant for products prior to addition of multifunctional additives if used. However, the use of multi-functional additives does not exempt the manufacturer from meeting this requirement prior to the addition of additives.

(Page 1, clause 2)-Insert "(P:16):1990 Density of crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products by hydrometer method (third revision)’ after’ (P:15):1976;

(Page 3, Table 1, Sl.No. (v), col 3)- Substitute ’45 8) for ‘45’ and insert following foot note after foot-note ‘7’)

For diesel fuel processed from Assam crude, the value of 42 minimum shall apply till 31st December, 1999.’

(Page 3, Table 1, foot-note 6)- Substitute the following for the existing foot-note:

Total sulphur content for HSD shall stand automatically revised as per the following schedule:
0.5 percent Max for the HSD supplied to 4 metropolitan cities of Delhi, Bombay, Madras and Calcutta and the Taj trapezium with effect from 1 April,1996.

0.25 percent max in Taj trapezium by 1 October, 1996.

0.25 percent Max throughout the country with effect from 1 April, 1999.

(Page 3, table 1, Sl. No. (xiii), col 6)- Substitute ‘P:33’ for ‘P:33’ and insert the following foot-note after new foot-note 8):

The test method given in IP 336 may also be permitted for testing of total sulphur as an alternative method. However, in case of dispute, method given in P:33 of IS 1448 shall be the referee method."

(Page 3, Table 1, foot-note 7)- Substitute the following for the existing:

The test shall be carried out only at the refinery or manufacturer’s end.

As an alternative, the test method ASTM D 2274, may be used and in such case the value of total insolubles shall be 2.5 mg/100 ml Max. In case of dispute with regard to the test to be followed, ASTM D 2274 shall be the refree test method.’

(Page 3, Table 1, Sl No. (xii) col 6)- Substitute ‘P:16 10) or P:32 ‘P:32’ and insert the following foot-note after new foot note ‘9’.

In case of dispute with regard to the test to be followed, P:32 shall be referee test method’

Variation in stocks in underground tanks is considered to be beyond normal operation level when the inspection establishes that the variation in stocks in the underground tanks is beyond 4% of tank stock over and above :

Evaporation/handling losses in motor spirit as follows –

0.75% on annual average sales of 0-600 Kilolitres.

0.60% on annual average sales of above 600 Kiloliters.

Handling losses in high speed diesel as follows –

0.25% on annual average sales of 0.600 Kilolitres.

0.20% on annual average sales of above 600 Kilolitres.

(Shrinkage losses on motor spirit high speed diesel and temperature variation allowance quantities on HSD to be taken into account wherever the same are applicable).

Note- In case of variation beyond permissible limits in the stocks of motor spirit or high speed diesel, dealer’s explanation will be called for before any action is taken under the provisions of this order.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Fuels Refinery Division Laboratory, Corridor Road, Mahul, Mumbai-400074.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Lubes Refinery Laboratory, Corridor Road, Mahul, Mumbai-400 074.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd.,Visakh Refinery Laboratory , P.O. Box No. 50, Vishakhapatnam-5300 01.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Budge Budge Laboratory, budge Budge, 24 Paraganas, West Bengal-743 319.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Laboratory, 98/99, Elaya Mudali Street, P.O. Box No. 1170, Washermanpat P.O., Chennai.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Laboratory Rohtak Road, Shakurbasti, Delhi-1100 56.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Laboratory P.B.No. 43, Gandhidham (Kachch)-370201.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd.,Vasco terminal Laboratory, P.B.No. 48, Vasco-D-Gama, Goa.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Ernakulam Terminal Laboratory, P.B.No. 2611, Ernakulam, Cochin-682 031.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Loni Terminal Laboratory, Loni Kalbhor, Pune-412 201.

Hindustan Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., D-99, TTC Indl. Area, P.B. No.2, Vashi-400 703, New Mumbai.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd. (Marketing Division), Allahabad Laboratory, P.B.No. 44, Allahabad-211 001.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Ambala Laboratory, G.T.Road, Pipeline Terminal, Ambala Cantonment, PIN-133001 (Haryana).

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Jalandhar Laboratory, Suchipind,Jalandhar City-144009.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Mughalsarai Laboratory, Mughalsarai-232 101.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Haldia Laboratory, P.O. Haldia refinery, Distt. Midnapur (West Bengal).

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Port Blair Laboratory, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Port Blair.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Bangalore Laboratory, Banasawadi Road, M.S Nagar, Bangalore-360 033.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Antop Hill Laboratory, Antop Hill, Wadala, Mumbai-400 031.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Shakurbasti Laboratory, Opp. Shivaji Park, Shakurbasti, Delhi-110056.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Delhi Terminal laboratory, Gurgaon Road, Bijwasan, New Delhi.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Calcutta Airport Terminal Laboratory, (Dum Dum Lab), Calcutta Airport, Calcutta-700 052.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Korkapet Laboratory, kathiavakkam, High Road, Chennai-600 021.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Railway Colony Post, Ahmedabad-300 019.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Rajabandh Terminal Laboratory, Durgapur-713 212.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Sipara, Post Persav, Poon Poon, Patna

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Near New Jalpaiguri Station, Post Siliguri-734 401.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Village Panchpara, P.O. Radhadashi, Distt. Howrah.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, panambur, Mangalore, Pin- 575 010.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Wellington islands, P.B. No. 35, Cochin-682 003.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Naphtha Terminal Project Laboratory, Opp. United Salt Works, Kandla Port, Post Office, Kandla (Kutch).

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, P.B.No. 154, Vasco-D-Gama, Goa,- 403 001.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Malkapuram Post Office, Vishakhapatnam- 530 011.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, tuticorin Harbour Project Premises, Tuticorin-628 004.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Post Office Armapore, Kanpur-208 009.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, 24, Paraganas, Budge Budge-743 319.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, post Office Fateh Bagh, Industrial Estate, Sannath Nagar, Hyderabad-500 018.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Mathura Refinery Laboratory, P.O. Mathura Refinery, Mathura-231 005, UP

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Barauni Oil Refinery Laboratory, Dist. Begusarai-851 112 , Bihar.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Gauhati Oil Refinery Laboratory, Noonmati,Gauhati-701 020 ,Assam.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Gujarat Oil Refinery Laboratory, P.O. Jawaharnagar, Dist. Vadodra-391 320.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., (Assam Oil Division), Digboi Refinery Laboratory, P.O. Digboi, Assam-786 171.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., (R&D Centre), Sector 13, Faridabad-121 001 Haryana

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, "Pir pau", Trombay, Mumbai-400 074.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, Ennore High Road, Tondiarpet, Thiruvottur Post, Chennai-600 081.

Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Laboratory, P-68, CGR Diversion Road, Paharpur, Calcutta-700 043.

47-A Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Bhilai Laboratory, near Railway Goods Shed, Bhilai, MP

47-B Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Bhopal Laborator, Diwangiri, Nishatpur, Bhopal-462 001.

47-C Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Haldia Laboratory, P.O.Haldia Refineries, Dist. Midnapur, West Bengal.

47-D Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Missamari Laboratory, Distt. Darrang. P.O. Missamari, Assam

47-E Indian oil Corporation Ltd., Jaipur Laboratory, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur-302 011.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Laboratories

Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., R&D Centre, A Installation, Sewree (East) Mumbai-400 013.

Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Budge Budge Installation Lab., Budge Budge, P.O. budge Budge, West Bengal-743 319.

Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Tondiarpet Installation Lab., Tondiarpet, P.B.No. 1152, Chennai- 600 001.

Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Shakurbasti Installation Lab., Shakurbasti Installation Lab., Shakurbasti, Delhi-110056.

Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Ernakulam Installation Lab., P.B. No. 2615, Goods Shed Road, Ernakulam Cochin- 682 031.

Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd., Kandla Installation Lab., P.B.No. 33, Post Gandhidham, Gujarat-370 201.

IBP Co. Limited Laboratory
IBP Co. Ltd., Sewree Terminal Laboratory, Mumbai-400 015.

IBP Co. Ltd., IBP Depot Laboratory, Rohtak Road, Shakurbasti, New Delhi-110034.

55-A IBP Co. Ltd., Laboratory, 93, MS Koil Street, Near Royapuram Bridge, Massey’s Godown, Chennai.

55-B IBP Co. Ltd., Cauvery Basin marketing Terminal, Muttam Village, Melavanjore P.O. Nagapattinam-611002, Nagore Taluk, Nagai Qued-e-Millet Dist. Tamil Nadu.

55-C IBP Co. Ltd., Grahm Road, Budge Budge, 24 Paraganas (s) West Bengal.

Mobile Laboratories of Oil Companies

56. Mobile Laboratories of Oil Cokmpanies (IOC, BPC, IBP Co & HP C) Other Refinery Laboratories

57. Bongaigaon Oilrefinery Ltd., Refinery Laboratory, P.O. New Bongaigaon, Dist.Kakrajhar, Assam.

Madras Refinery Laboratory, Madras Refineries Ltd.,Manali, Chennai-600 019.

Cochin Refinery Ltd., Refinery Laboratory, Post Ambalamugal, Cochin-682 302.

Government Laboratories

Director of Airworthiness, Civil Aviation Deptt. Laboratory, Block II/III East, R.K.Puram, New Delhi-1100 66.

National Test House, 11/1, Judges Court Road, Alipore, Calcutta-700 027.

National Physical Laboratory, Pusa, New Delhi-110012.

62-A Chemical Testing and Analytical Laboratory, Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Guindy.

Defence Laboratories

Chief Controlrate of Materials, Controlrate General of Stores Laboratory, IGS Kanpur, P.B. No. 229, Kanpur.

Inspectorate General of Stores Laboratory (IGSL), DGI Complex, Chennai- 600 114.

Inspectorate General of Stores Laboratory, DGI Complex, Hastings, Calcutta-700 022.

Inspectorate General of Stores Laboratory, DGI Complex, Vikhroli, Mumbai-400 083.

Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun- 248005.

Indian Institute of Technology, Guindy, Chennai

Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.

Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai.

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Regional Research Laboratory, Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500 007.

And all Forensic Laboratories in States/ UTs.

Source : Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Govternment of India)