Dump your Red Diesel before arriving in the Netherlands?

jimmynoboat · #1 30-05-07, 18:49

I have just been sent this story and I had to ask - has anyone else had bother like this over red diesel in the Netherlands?

story here

Barbican Bill · #2 30-05-07, 19:27

Blimey!

Would be very interesting to know if anyone else has encountered this recently. If it is a new policy, then I'm changing my holiday plans! If on the other hand I've been running this risk for years, then I may continue to do so.

Little Knot

firstmatewendy · #3 30-05-07, 19:33

HWMBO and crew have this evening arrived in Vlissingen with our boat (which will be kept at Kortgene on the Veerse Meer). After 21 hours of motoring/motor sailing in much heavier weather than predicted, I haven't got the heart to ring him up and tell him to look out for the Dutch customs.
Fingers crossed!

sailorman · #4 30-05-07, 19:37

keep the reciept o/b seem to be the answer [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Becky · #5 30-05-07, 19:39

I am sitting here just wondering if these good people have been taken for suckers.

HWMBO is quite nervous of this situation when we are abroad.

BUT, surely we can only buy red diesel, and as it is legal in the UK, it should only become illegal if we buy red abroad?

The thing is that with log and receipts one should be able to prove that no infringement has taken place.

I find this whole subject highly suspicious. I firmly believe that ungodly officials take advantage of us innocent Brits.

Unless someone on the forum knows better?

moondancer · #6 30-05-07, 20:00

I am fairly convinced I had water in red diesel from a marina a whie ago so now I fill up with jerry cans from petrol stations. The amount I use is quite small so it is just about practical and the cost is not an issue.

Seven Spades · #7 30-05-07, 20:01

I am sure that as the fuel was bought in the UK, it is in free circulation and as such if there is a Law in the Netherlands which prohibits its importation that law would not be upheld in the European Court.

I wonder what would have happend if they had said that they wanted to see or speak to a lawer before paying any fine.

ChrisE · #8 30-05-07, 20:11

I don't know for sure but my guess is that the Dutch authorities were being over officious and a polite statement along the lines of 'Please take me to the police station where I would like to talk to your boss' might have got a different response.

Oldhand · #9 30-05-07, 20:30

The question is whether the EU, having removed the UK's red deisel derrogation as of 01 Jan 2007, agrees with our useless govermnet not doing anything about it until October 2008? Has our government got EU agreement for us to continue to use red diesel into 2008? If so we should all be issued with a copy of such agreement. If not, our government is forcing us to break EU law and should be taken to court for doing so.

Just wait until July/August, I'm sure the authorities in another well visited EU country will want to start checking our diesel tanks too....

peterb26 · #10 30-05-07, 21:09

This is a bit like the Portuguese Government totally ignoring EC VAT regulations on imported boats and cars.

Portugal make 100s of millions of euros a year out of illegally demanding Portuguese VAT at 21% from fully paid boat and car owners, yet Portugal continues to do this because the EEC only fine them 10 million euros each year - so its a good earner............

Basically disgusting but as it says in the article - who do you complain to?