Economy Minister Tonio Fenech yesterday confirmed in Parliament that as of April 26 this year a national marker chemical had started being added to diesel and some other locally-used fuels, as per Legal Notice 96 of 2010.

Answering a question by Labour MP Owen Bonnici, minister Fenech said that according to information provided by Customs, the risks to health and environment and precautions to be taken are described in a Material Safety Data Sheet of which he tabled a copy. He also tabled a note about Regulation 1272/2008 issued according to Regulation 1907/2006 by the European Parliament and European Council. A copy of these documents had already been distributed to each operator in the fuel sector.

The product is made up of 99 per cent normal carbohydrates as solvent and one per cent active chemical. It is mixed at the rate of 20 parts to one million parts of fuel. This means that the active chemical is present at the rate of one part to five million parts of fuel.

The Material Safety Data Sheet gives a full description of the product components as well as the regulations that apply to them, and instructions on how to ensure the safety of whoever works with the product and its effects on health and environment. Minister Fenech said all available indications showed that the specific chemical was less noxious than the diesel itself.

A copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet advises that the product, Dyeguard Marker JT, is harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. It can accumulate static charges which can cause an incendiary electrical discharge.

The product's fire and explosion hazards are low. It can form flammable mixtures or can burn only on heating to temperatures at or above the flash point.

It is toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.