The government and stakeholders in the agricultural, oil and automotive worlds have adopted 15 measures intended to support the development of biofuels in France and achieve the recent target of 5,75% incorporation into fuels as of 2008. (…)
On the other hand, the participants felt that pure vegetable oils had limits, officially both because of the technical and environmental constraints of the engines, as well as the health risks that may exist in the use for animal feed of the cakes co-produced from these oils. .
In addition to the oil companies who view this sector with a very negative view (and for good reason…), automobile manufacturers are not in favor of the direct use of pure vegetable oils in automobile engines. According to them, these do not meet the specifications which allow diesel engines to meet the very low levels of pollutant emissions imposed by European standards.
However, from 1 January 2007 the marketing of these pure vegetable oils as agricultural fuel will be authorized, without however prejudging the position of the automotive sector on the guarantees offered. A decree will specify the conditions for the production, marketing and use of these oils, based on the results of experiments carried out in France and abroad.
Regarding tax exemption **, the ministers wanted to stay at the level provided in the 2006 finance bill, which remains very favorable, according to Bercy.