In addition to the extract from the Cruising Association forum below, for the latest update on the Red Diesel problem, see this posting on the RYA site:
This has recently been posted on the Cruising Association forum and, in as much as many of our members do visit Belgium, is highly relevant. Extract is as follows -
I am posting this for the benefit of non-ybw.com readers. A regular on that forum has been writing letters to various Government authorities in Belgium to ascertain the true position regarding fines on UK and other yachts that are found to have red diesel in their tanks. He has posted a letter today that confirms the Belgians' intention to fine those boats regardless of their possession of receipts showing duty paid. This is the text.
"I apologize for the somewhat belated reply to your last email but I wanted to make sure I had all pertinent information in my possession before coming back to you.
Although I understand the difficult position you and other British cruisers are in, I have to confirm that Belgium will indeed continue to fine pleasure vessels using dyed diesel.
EU legislation clearly does not allow the use of dyed diesel for leisure vessels and Member States have to conform to this. It is worth noting that Belgium also used to allow for an exemption for pleasure vessels but put an end to it on the 31st of December 2006 in order to be in conformity with said EU legislation.
Belgian authorities have been in contact both with their British counterparts and with the Commission to explain it had no other choice but to implement EU legislation. Not doing so could be considered as an infringement. The Commission has never berated Belgium for its practice of fining the use of dyed diesel. Quite to the contrary, it is my understanding that the Commission has asked British authorities for explanations pertaining to its continued use of dyed diesel and started an investigation against the UK . Some of the confusion surrounding this question arises from early letters from the Commission which unfortunately contain some inaccurate information. As mentioned in my first email, we are currently waiting for a decision from the Commission and will in the meantime continue to respect and implement the EU legislation on the use of diesel.
Regards,
Serge Dickschen
Counsellor - Political Affairs
Embassy of Belgium
17 Grosvenor Crescent
London SW1X 7EE