How a tiny leak can spoil a town's groundwater What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.
Hazards
Classification
UN number
Key risks
Flammable liquid cat 2; skin irritation cat 2
UN2398
Highly flammable. Very soluble in water and slow to biodegrade, so leaks from fuel tanks contaminate groundwater with a taste and odour detectable at low ppb.
Main rules
Where
Rule
Effect
US
State bans from the early 2000s; use as oxygenate ended in 2006
US demand moved to ethanol; producers export
EU
Fuel Quality Directive allows up to 22% ethers in petrol; RED favours ETBE from bio-ethanol
gradual shift to ETBE
Japan
Use in petrol ended 2001
no domestic demand
India
Rule
Effect
BIS IS 2796 petrol specification (oxygenate limits, indicative)
caps ether content
Ethanol Blended Petrol programme (E20 nationally from 2025)
ethanol displaces part of MTBE's octane role
Trade measures
No major anti-dumping measures found
EU CBAM does not cover MTBE (indicative)
Supply risk
Low to moderate: produced in many refineries; Gulf on-purpose supply is exposed to Hormuz.