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<p>This is a global issue since nearly all commercial flight training involves fuel
incorporating TEL since it reduces the risk of engine misfires with potentially serious
consequences for aircraft safety. The use of fuel incorporating TEL is widespread
across many countries’ GA sectors, including the United States and many European countries,
where it is the dominant fuel used for piston engine aircraft.</p><p> </p><p>The Department
for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs leads the development of the UK REACH
alongside the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). My officials engaged with them
to understand the legal status of TEL in the EU, as well as to understand how the
UK REACH regulations would work. No country globally has banned TEL. The HSE recently
announced that they would not include TEL in their list of authorised chemicals under
the UK REACH as they judged that with intensive efforts already ongoing to find a
substitute, additional regulatory pressure is unlikely to speed this up keeping the
UK in line with the EU, but would revisit this when substitutes had been tested and
certified.</p><p> </p><p>Aside from noting whether TEL would be assessed for inclusion
in Annex 14 of UK REACH, neither my officials, myself nor the Secretary of State have
engaged either organisation to influence their decision.</p><p> </p><p>In response
to an enquiry by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association about the future of 100LL
the Secretary of State asked his officials to speed up work on finding safe alternative
unleaded fuel such as UL91. This is highly technical safety work involving the FAA,
EASA and engine manufacturers in which the UK seeks to play a leading part.</p><p>
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