EU face challenge on biofuel ‘splash and dash’

Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, Linda McAvon has criticised the practice warning that it is undermining European producers and further damaging the environment.

‘Splash and dash’ involves shipping biodiesel from Europe to the US where petrol is added, taking advantage of 11p a litre US subsidies. It is then shipped back to Europe where it is sold below EU prices.

Around 10 per cent of biofuel exports from the US are part of the scheme, but critics claim it is undermining European producers by selling below EU prices as well as damaging the environment by requiring unnecessary transport as it is shipped across the Atlantic.

The European Biofuels Board has also called for the practice to be made illegal, and has handed a detailed report to Commissioners, calling for trade sanctions against cheap US imports.

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