Ipieca took part in a roundtable organized by the Benelux Union (a political and economic agreement between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
The roundtable was focused on the global harmonisation of fuel standards and how to stop the exportation of polluting fuels to countries outside the European Union and European Economic Area.
It convened representatives from the Benelux countries, European institutions, the United Nations, and African and European stakeholders.
Global harmonisation of fuel standards
UNEP and African countries have long advocated for global harmonization of fuel standards, as many of the automotive fuels used in Africa originate from Europe and are often subject to less stringent regulations.
At the end of December 2024, the Benelux Committee of Ministers adopted this recommendation to promote the export of cleaner fuels to third countries. The goal is for all exporting Benelux countries to align their national legislation with these stricter standards by January 1, 2027, if they have not already done so. With this initiative, the Benelux countries are taking the lead in Europe and making an important step toward more sustainable trade.
Sharing lessons learnt and good practice
Ipieca has been involved in and added value to multilateral initiatives, including:
- UNEP’s Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles - of which Ipieca is a founding member, leading the coordination of the downstream sector - which achieved the end of global use of leaded petrol in 2021 and which is currently focused on the adoption of Euro 4 vehicle emissions standards in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Its work with the UN Globally Harmonized System, a single worldwide system for classifying and communicating the hazardous properties of industrial and consumer substances and mixtures
Click here for more information on Ipieca’s work on cleaner fuels and products.
