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Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Chapter 55 — Petroleum Marketing Practices

§ 2822. Automotive fuel rating testing and disclosure requirements

Statutory text

(a)

Determination and certification of automotive fuel rating by refiner distributing automotive fuel

Each refiner who distributes automotive fuel in commerce shall—

(1)

determine the automotive fuel rating of any such fuel; and

(2)

if such refiner distributes such fuel to any person other than the ultimate purchaser, certify, consistent with the determination made under paragraph (1), the automotive fuel rating of such fuel.

(b)

Certification of automotive fuel rating by distributor receiving and distributing automotive fuel with certified automotive fuel rating; use of automotive fuel rating for certification by distributor

Each distributor who receives automotive fuel, the automotive fuel rating of which is certified to him under this section, and distributes such fuel in commerce to another person other than the ultimate purchaser shall certify to such other person the automotive fuel rating of such fuel consistent with—

(1)

the automotive fuel rating of such fuel certified to such distributor; or

(2)

if such distributor elects (at such time and in such manner as the Federal Trade Commission may, by rule, prescribe), the automotive fuel rating of such fuel determined by such distributor.

(c)

Display of automotive fuel rating by automotive fuel retailer; use of automotive fuel rating for display

Each automotive fuel retailer shall display in a clear and conspicuous manner, at the point of sale to ultimate purchasers of automotive fuel, the automotive fuel rating of such automotive fuel, which automotive fuel rating shall be consistent with—

(1)

the automotive fuel rating of such automotive fuel certified to such retailer under subsection (a)(2) or (b);

(2)

if such automotive fuel retailer elects (at such time and in such manner as the Federal Trade Commission may, by rule, prescribe), the automotive fuel rating of such automotive fuel determined by such retailer for such automotive fuel; or

(3)

if such automotive fuel retailer is a refiner, the automotive fuel rating of such automotive fuel determined under subsection (a)(1).

(d)

Display or representation of automotive fuel requirements for new motor vehicles by manufacturer of such vehicles; promulgation of rules by Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission shall, by rule, prescribe requirements, applicable to any manufacturer of new motor vehicles, with respect to the display on each such motor vehicle (or representation in connection with the sale of each such motor vehicle) of the automotive fuel requirement of such motor vehicle.

(e)

Representation of antiknock characteristics of automotive fuel by person distributing automotive fuel; use of automotive fuel rating in representation

No person who distributes automotive fuel in commerce may make any representation respecting the antiknock characteristics of such fuel unless such representation fairly discloses the automotive fuel rating of such fuel consistent with such fuel’s automotive fuel rating as certified to or determined by such person under the foregoing provisions of this section.

(f)

Additional statutory considerations respecting certification, display, or representation of automotive fuel rating of automotive fuel

For purposes of this section, the automotive fuel rating of any automotive fuel shall be considered to be certified, displayed, or represented by any person consistent with the rating certified to, or determined by, such person—

(1)

in the case of automotive fuel which consists of a blend of two or more quantities of automotive fuel of differing automotive fuel ratings, only if the rating certified, displayed, or represented by such person is the average of the automotive fuel ratings of such quantities, weighted by volume; or

(2)

in the case of fuel which does not consist of such a blend, only if the automotive fuel rating such person certifies, displays, or represents is the same as the automotive fuel rating of such fuel certified to, or determined by, such person.

(g)

Nonapplicability of statutory requirements

The foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply—

(1)

to any representation (by display at the point of sale or by other means) of any characteristics of any automotive fuel other than its automotive fuel rating; or

(2)

to the identification of automotive fuel at the point of sale (or elsewhere) by the trademark, trade name, or other identifying symbol or mark used in connection with the sale of such fuel.

(h)

Display or representation of automotive fuel requirement of motor vehicle not to create express or implied warranty under State or Federal law respecting knocking characteristics of automotive fuel

Any display or representation, with respect to the automotive fuel requirement of any motor vehicle, required to be made under any rule prescribed under subsection (d) shall not create an express or implied warranty under State or Federal law that any automotive fuel the automotive fuel rating of which equals or exceeds such automotive fuel requirement—

(1)

may be used as a fuel in all motor vehicles of the same class as that motor vehicle without knocking; or

(2)

may be used as a fuel in such motor vehicle under all operating conditions without knocking.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Petroleum Marketing Practices Act

    Pub. L. 95–297 title II § 202 · 92 Stat. 322

    Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

    Pub. L. 95–297, title II, § 202, June 19, 1978, 92 Stat. 334

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 95–297, title II, § 202, June 19, 1978, 92 Stat. 334

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    Sec. 202. octane testing and disclosure requirements (a) Each refiner who distributes automotive gasoline in commerce shall— (1) determine the octane rating of any such gasoline; and (2) if such refiner distributes such gasoline to any person other than the ultimate purchaser, certify, consistent with the determination made under paragraph (1), the octane rating of such gasoline. (b) Each distributor who receives automotive gasoline, the octane rating of which is certified to him under this section, and distributes such gasoline in commerce to another person other than the ultimate purchaser shall certify to such other person the octane rating of such gasoline consistent with— (1) the octane rating of such gasoline certified to such distributor; or (2) if such distributor elects (at such time and in such manner as the Federal Trade Commission may, by rule, prescribe), the octane rating of such gasoline determined by such distributor. (c) Each gasoline retailer shall display in a clear and conspicuous manner, at the point of sale to ultimate purchasers of automotive gasoline, the octane rating of such gasoline, which octane rating shall be consistent with— (1) the octane rating of such gasoline certified to such retailer under subsection (a)(2) or (b); (2) if such gasoline retailer elects (at such time and in such manner as the Federal Trade Commission may, by rule, prescribe), the octane rating of such gasoline determined by such retailer for such gasoline; or (3) if such gasoline retailer is a refiner, the octane rating of such gasoline determined under subsection (a)(1). Rules.(d) The Federal Trade Commission shall, by rule, prescribe requirements, applicable to any manufacturer of new motor vehicles, with respect to the display on each such motor vehicle (or representation in connection with the sale of each such motor vehicle) of the octane requirement of such motor vehicle. (e) No person who distributes automotive gasoline in commerce may make any representation respecting the antiknock characteristics of such gasoline unless such representation fairly discloses the octane rating of such gasoline consistent with such gasoline’s octane rating as certified to or determined by such person under the foregoing provisions of this section. (f) For purposes of this section, the octane rating of any automotive gasoline shall be considered to be certified, displayed, or represented by any person consistent with the rating certified to, or determined by, such person— (1) in the case of automotive gasoline which consists of a blend of two or more quantities of automotive gasoline of differing octane ratings, only if the rating certified, displayed, or represented by such person is the average of the octane ratings of such quantities, weighted by volume; or (2) in the case of gasoline which does not consist, of such a blend, only if the octane rating such person certifies, displays, or represents is the same as the octane rating of such gasoline certified to, or determined by, such person. (g) The foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply— (1) to any representation (by display at the point of sale or by other means) of any characteristics of any automotive gasoline other than its octane rating; or (2) to the identification of automotive gasoline at the point of sale (or elsewhere) by the trademark, trade name, or other identifying symbol or mark used in connection with the sale of such gasoline. (h) Any display or representation, with respect to the octane requirement of any motor vehicle, required to be made under any rule prescribed under subsection (d) shall not create an express or implied warranty under State or Federal law that any automotive gasoline the octane rating of which equals or exceeds such octane requirement— (1) may be used as a fuel in all motor vehicles of the same class as that motor vehicle without knocking; or (2) may be vised as a fuel in such motor vehicle under all operating conditions without knocking.

  2. Energy Policy Act of 1992

    Pub. L. 102–486 title XV § 1501(c)(2) · 106 Stat. 2776

    1. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 amended section as follows: substituted “Automotive fuel rating” for “Octane” “octane ratings”, respectively, wherever appearing; in subsecs. (a) and (b)

    2. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 amended section as follows: substituted “automotive fuel ratings” for “octane rating” “octane ratings”, respectively, wherever appearing; in subsecs. (a) and (b)

    3. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing; in subsec. (c)

    4. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “automotive fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing except that “fuel” substituted for second reference to “gasoline”; in subsec. (d)

    5. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “automotive fuel” for “octane”; in subsec. (e)

    6. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing

    7. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “fuel’s” for “gasoline’s”; in subsecs. (f), (g), and (h)

    8. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing; and in subsec. (h)

    9. Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 2822

      Pub. L. 102–486 substituted “automotive fuel requirement” for “octane requirement” wherever appearing

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 102–486 amended section as follows: substituted “Automotive fuel rating” for “Octane” in section catchline; substituted “automotive fuel rating” and “automotive fuel ratings” for “octane rating” and “octane ratings”, respectively, wherever appearing; in subsecs. (a) and (b), substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing; in subsec. (c), substituted “automotive fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing except that “fuel” substituted for second reference to “gasoline”; in subsec. (d), substituted “automotive fuel” for “octane”; in subsec. (e), substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing and substituted “fuel’s” for “gasoline’s”; in subsecs. (f), (g), and (h), substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing; and in subsec. (h), substituted “automotive fuel requirement” for “octane requirement” wherever appearing.

    Effective date note
    Amendment by Pub. L. 102–486 effective at end of one-year period beginning Oct. 24, 1992, see section 1501(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–486, set out as a note under section 2821 of this title.

1 of 10 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 9 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–486 amended section as follows: substituted “Automotive fuel rating” for “Octane” in section catchline; substituted “automotive fuel rating” and “automotive fuel ratings” for “octane rating” and “octane ratings”, respectively, wherever appearing; in subsecs. (a) and (b), substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing; in subsec. (c), substituted “automotive fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing except that “fuel” substituted for second reference to “gasoline”; in subsec. (d), substituted “automotive fuel” for “octane”; in subsec. (e), substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing and substituted “fuel’s” for “gasoline’s”; in subsecs. (f), (g), and (h), substituted “fuel” for “gasoline” wherever appearing; and in subsec. (h), substituted “automotive fuel requirement” for “octane requirement” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–486 effective at end of one-year period beginning , see section 1501(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–486, set out as a note under section 2821 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 95–297, title II, § 205, , 92 Stat. 337, provided that:

“(a)

Sections 202(a)(1) [subsec. (a)(1) of this section] and 203(b) [section 2823(b) of this title] shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month beginning more than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [].

“(b)

Subsections (a)(2), (b), (c), and (e) of section 202 [subsecs. (a)(2), (b), (c), and (e) of this section] shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month beginning more than 9 months after such date of enactment [].

“(c)

Rules under section 202(d) [subsec. (d) of this section] may not take effect earlier than the beginning of the first motor vehicle model year which begins more than 9 months after such date of enactment [].”

Studies

Section 1503 of Pub. L. 102–486 directed Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a study to determine whether the anti-knock characteristics of nonliquid fuels usable as a fuel for motor vehicles could be determined and further directed Federal Trade Commission to carry out a study to determine the need for a uniform national label on devices used to dispense automotive fuel to consumers that would consolidate all information required by Federal law to be posted on such devices, with reports of the results of the studies to be submitted to Congress within one year of , together with recommendations and a description of the administrative and legislative actions needed to implement the recommendations.

Credits

1978–1992 · 2 acts
  1. 1978Pub. L. 95–297, title II, § 202, , 92 Stat. 334
  2. 1992Pub. L. 102–486, title XV, § 1501(c)(2), , 106 Stat. 2997.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 95–297, title II, § 202, , 92 Stat. 334; Pub. L. 102–486, title XV, § 1501(c)(2), , 106 Stat. 2997.)

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