Australia introduces outboard emissions standards legislation

The Australian Government has today introduced new legislation designed to bring Australia in line with world emissions standards for small engines from outboards to lawn mowers.

In the marine segment, the laws will cover any petrol (spark ignition) engine, including outboards, inboards, and PWCs. Other small engines from lawn mowers to chainsaws are also covered under the bill.

The bill is planned to progress through parliament over the coming months, with both the bill and the detailed rules becoming law by December. There won’t be an immediate start, instead industry will have until June 20, 2018 to cease imports and a further year to clear stocks.

The Australian standards will be based on the US EPA rules but to make it easier for importers, outboards with certification in the USA, EU and Canada will all pass. In practice, all four strokes and modern DI engines like E-TEC will all pass. Carby two strokes have much higher emissions, not just 20 or 30 per cent more but 11 times on average.