Activist MEPs put tar sands ‘dirty label’ back on the agenda

The European Parliament's environment committee rejected on 3 December 2014 the European Commission's proposal to remove the 'dirty label' for tar sands exports from Canada.

The proposal meant that tar sands would no longer have to be differentiated from conventional crude, with lower overall greenhouse gas emissions, making it easier for the unconventional oil to reach the European market.

However, the European Parliament's plenary vote on amendments to the Fuel Quality Directive which regulates tar sands did not get enough vots to be rejected. Therefore, rules that do not penalise imports of polluting tar sands oil from Canada were approved.

ESO: Background information: EU proposal scraps mandatory 'dirty' label for tar sands http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-proposal-scraps-mandatory-dirty-label-for-tar-sands/

ALDE: Press Release, 03.12.14: MEPs back Tar Sands objection http://www.alde.eu/nc/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/meps-back-tar-sands-objection-44145/

EurActiv, 17.12.14: Canada tar sands will not be labelled ‘dirty’ after all http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/canada-tar-sands-will-not-be-labelled-dirty-after-all-310910

EurAcriv, 25.11.15: Two thirds of European oil refineries ready for tar sands imports http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/two-thirds-european-oil-refineries-ready-tar-sands-imports-319794

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