UEIL Technical & Competitions Committee
The work of the UEIL Technical and Competition Committee is to ensure fair access to technical information for lubricant blenders to develop products that meet the specifications and provide OEM quality parts, predominantly to the aftermarket.
Currently the committee is investigating 10 cases concerning anti-competitive practice amongst the OEMs. These cases include light and heavy duty automotive as well as industrial manufacturers. At the end of each investigation a technical bulletin is issued by UEIL and is available on its website. A list of past bulletins can be found on the UEIL website at the following link and have included Mannol, Mercedes-Benz, VW-Audi, Kubota, SEAT, Skoda, Renault Trucks, Volvo Trucks, Mercury, PSA, Hitachi Construction, BMW, John Deere, Ford, Liebherr, FCA and Bosch Rexroth approvals amongst others.
Fair access to technical information ensures consumers and end users have a choice of which products to buy that suit their needs and allows for fair competition in the European lubricants market.
Examples of unfair and restrictive trade practices that are challenged by UEIL include service interval extensions for OEM labelled lubricants, warranty restrictions and exclusions for the use of non-OEM labelled products, and the withholding of technical specifications against which independent blenders can develop and market finished lubricants.
As well as ensuring fair access to technical information, the work of the committee also involves lobbying for and advising UEIL members on regulatory changes that benefit the European sector. This includes the recent renewal of the European Union Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) for a period of five years from summer 2023.
The regulation ensures fair access to the automotive aftermarket for third party actors providing OEM quality parts, or ‘spare parts’ in the regulation, in return for allowing the automotive manufacturers and distributors to enter into vertical agreements for the supply of vehicles and spare parts with some guarantees and restrictions that could adversely affect free and fair competition.
Changes to the ACEA engine oil sequences and product labelling regulations are also a matter of consideration for the committee.
If any UEIL member has a concern about access to technical information, please contact the committee via the UEIL Secretariat at
secretariat@ueil.org.
Product Carbon Footprint – Presentation at ALIA 2024
At the invitation of ALIA, Markus Garb (Chair of UEIL Sustainability Committee) presented at the ALIA AGM (Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam) on 6th March. A copy of his presentation entitled ‘UEIL Sustainability Committee – Collaborative Platform of the European Lubricants Industry, PCF Methodology and Outlook’ is available on the UEIL Sustainability Website (https://
www.ueil.org/sustainability/).
Published 30th November 2023, the UEIL–ATIEL PCF methodology is the first to focus on cradle-to- outbound gate (lubricant and speciality products). The methodology has been well-received by many globally recognised lubricant industry associations and other stakeholders within the lubricants value chain, and it will be a cornerstone for a global, harmonized PCF methodology for the lubricants industry. The PCF methodology can be downloaded from the UEIL website (
https://www.ueil.org/wp-content/ uploads/2023/11/UEIL_ATIEL_PCF-Methodology_ Rev-1.pdf)
Practical initiatives to reduce companies’ Scopes 1 and 2 emissions
Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions is crucial for companies striving towards sustainability goals and compliance with EU regulations. Scope 1 emissions, stemming directly from company activities, notably from fuel combustion and vehicle use, contribute significantly to carbon footprints. Scope 2 (indirect) emissions, originating from purchased energy sources like electricity and heat, can also be substantial.
In alignment with the UEIL Sustainability Committee’s mandate to “direct and align members’ sustainability efforts, especially by providing practical guidance to SME member companies”, UEIL is compiling and
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