The Regional Government has approved the marketing mechanisms of dyed and marked diesel in the Autonomous Region and also determined that 98 octane unleaded petrol should be sold in a free price system.

The decision was announced today by the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs at the presentation of the press release from the Council of the Government that met in Ponta Delgada.

The fuel used in agriculture and fishing is taxed with a reduced rate on oil products and "with the introduction of dyed and marked diesel, the Government of the Azores intends to tighten the control of this tax benefit and prevent its misuse," said Isabel Rodrigues.

The dyed and marked diesel has the same characteristics as road diesel. It can be distinguished by colour (green) as well as by the addition of a chemical additive (tracer) that allows its easy detection, even when previously bleached.

The Government has also decided that 98 octane unleaded petrol is no longer regulated by the maximum price system. From now onwards, it will be sold in a free price system.

"In order to facilitate the sales of dyed and marked diesel, and given that 98 octane unleaded petrol is a fuel with residual sales," Isabel Rodrigues added that "there could be the possibility of discontinuing the commercialisation of this type of fuel at some stations and use the infrastructures already installed."

Oil companies and other entities owning fuel stations as well as companies owning fuel storage facilities have a maximum period of 90 days from the date of entry into force of the approved resolution to make the necessary adaptations. This is also the maximum deadline to begin the sales of dyed and marked diesel.

The Council of Government has also decided to regulate the Subsystem of Incentives for Internationalisation, which aims to strengthen intraregional trade and the shipping of Azorean products to outside the Region. It will improve the position of Azorean companies in a global market, covering all activity sectors, and offset the additional costs arising from the fact that the Azores are an outermost region.

With the regulations now adopted, this Subsystem of Incentives for Internationalisation will boost the development of plans for research of external markets, sales and marketing, promotion of digital business opportunities with clients and suppliers through appropriate technological solutions, and the support to cooperation initiatives between companies and other entities; the latter intends to establish joint support services to projects aimed at the penetration of foreign markets.

The Subsystem of Incentives for Internationalisation also aims to replace the Support System for the Promotion of Azorean Products, which has been in force since 1984. It comprises a broader list of products whose transport costs are eligible for support. This support measure is no longer awarded in accordance with trading markets.

This subsystem comprises projects developed in various sectors, such as agribusiness and vegetable and fruit growing. As for the fisheries sector, its inclusion in the current subsystem incentives awaits the decision of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs of the European Commission and the Directorate-general for Competition of the same Commission.
 
Moreover, the Council of the Government has taken the decision of opening an international public tender for the completion of the contract work for the Improvement of Terceira Slaughterhouse, with a base price of one million and 850 thousand Euros. This project has a completion period of 10 months.

The improvement of Terceira Slaughterhouse includes the expansion of the cold storage capacity, the remodelling of technical areas, the expansion of the stable areas and the remodelling of the stunning area.