prEN 15376

• Abstract:

  This document specifies requirements and test methods for marketed and delivered ethanol to be used as an extender for automotive fuel for petrol engine vehicles in accordance with the requirements of EN 228 [5]. It is applicable to ethanol used for blending at all levels up to and including 85 % (V/V).; NOTE For the purposes of this document, the term “% (m/m)” and “% (V/V)” are used to represent respectively the mass fraction, µ, and the volume fraction, φ.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 05-Jun-2028
• ICS: 71.080.60 - Alcohols. Ethers
• ICS: 75.160.20 - Liquid fuels
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 19 - Petroleum products, lubricants and related products
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 19/WG 21 - Specification for unleaded petrol
• Current Stage: 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 20-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 22-Feb-2027
• Completion Date: 20-Aug-2026
• Directive: 98/70/EC - Quality of petrol and diesel fuels (Dir. 93/12/EEC amendment)
• Mandate: M/344 - Mandate to CEN on Ethanol as an oxygen extender to gasoline
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 15376:2026 - Automotive fuels - Ethanol as a blending component for petrol - Requirements and test methods

• Revises: EN 15376:2014 - Automotive fuels - Ethanol as a blending component for petrol - Requirements and test methods
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2026

prEN 15376 is a draft European Standard from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) for ethanol used as a blending component for petrol. It specifies requirements and test methods for marketed and delivered ethanol intended as an extender for petrol engine vehicles, so producers, blenders, distributors and laboratories can check fuel grade ethanol before it is mixed with petrol. The scope covers ethanol for blending at all levels up to and including 85 % (V/V).

What does prEN 15376 specify?

prEN 15376 specifies the quality, sampling and test framework for ethanol used in petrol blends in accordance with EN 228. The document applies to ethanol supplied for blending up to 85 % (V/V), and it uses % (m/m) and % (V/V) to mean mass fraction and volume fraction.

The document is organized into Scope, Normative references, Sampling, and Requirements and test methods, followed by the foreword and bibliography. In practice, that means it tells users what ethanol is covered, how samples are taken, which test methods are used, and which properties have to meet specified limits before the ethanol is blended into petrol.

What are the key requirements of prEN 15376?

prEN 15376 focuses on sampling, blend compatibility, denaturing, product quality before denaturing, water behavior, and dispute handling. The requirements are written so that suppliers and laboratories can verify fuel quality before the ethanol reaches the petrol blend.

Sampling and test control

Clause 3 requires samples to be taken in accordance with EN ISO 3170 and/or national alcohol sampling rules. The document also points users to any sampling-container guidance in the relevant test methods, which matters because sensitive analyses can be affected by the container used and by the way the sample is handled.

Dyes, markers and additives

Clause 4.1 allows dyes or markers only if they do not create harmful side effects for vehicle systems or fuel distribution systems. Clause 4.2 recommends considering anti-corrosion additives for distribution and using additives that are compatible with the finished petrol. In practice, this is about protecting storage, pipelines and vehicle fuel systems without introducing new compatibility problems.

Denaturing

Clause 4.3 permits denaturants required by customs rules if they do not harm vehicles or petroleum distribution systems. The clause recommends denaturants such as automotive petrol conforming to EN 228, ETBE, MTBE, TBA, isobutanol and isopropanol, used alone or in combination. This matters because the choice of denaturant has to fit national rules while still staying compatible with petrol quality requirements.

Quality limits before denaturing

Clause 4.4.1 and Table 1 give the main property limits for undenatured ethanol and link each property to a test method. The list covers composition, water, acidity, conductivity, appearance, chloride, sulfate, copper, phosphorus, dry residue and sulfur. For users, this is the core acceptance check: the ethanol has to be analyzed against these limits before it is approved for blending.

Biological origin

Clause 4.4.2 recommends a traceable record of biological origin when the bio-based origin of ethanol needs to be identified. It also points to carbon-14 based age determination through EN 16640 when the audit trail is disputed or needs verification. This gives blenders and auditors a way to support claims about origin.

Water behavior in real climates

Clause 4.5 requires suppliers to ensure that no water segregation occurs under the climatic and fuel-distribution conditions experienced in the country concerned. In practice, ethanol suppliers have to consider local storage and transport conditions, not only the laboratory results.

Precision and disputes

Clause 4.6 says the test methods include precision statements and that disputes are handled using EN ISO 4259-2. It also assigns specific dispute methods for water content, copper and sulfur content, and phosphorus content. This matters when results from different laboratories need a common basis for comparison.

What terms does prEN 15376 define?

• % (m/m) - mass fraction, used for limits that are expressed by mass.
• % (V/V) - volume fraction, used for blending levels by volume.
• Denaturants - substances added to make ethanol unsuitable for direct consumption while keeping it usable as fuel component.
• ETBE - ethyl tert-butyl ether, named as a recommended denaturant.
• MTBE - methyl tert-butyl ether, named as a recommended denaturant.
• TBA - tertiary butyl alcohol, named as a recommended denaturant.
• Water segregation - separation of water from the ethanol under storage or distribution conditions.
• C-14 - carbon-14, used in the biological-origin verification route described with EN 16640.

Who uses prEN 15376?

prEN 15376 is used by ethanol producers, downstream distributors, petrol blenders, testing laboratories and conformity-assessment staff working in automotive fuels. It is also relevant to national authorities and customs-related users when denaturing requirements and national rules have to be applied. The document supports routine quality control, incoming inspection, blend formulation and dispute resolution.

What changed in prEN 15376 from the previous edition?

prEN 15376 will supersede EN 15376:2014. The foreword states two technical changes: dated references were removed so the latest editions of referenced standards apply, and footnote b in Table 1 for EN 15721 was removed because it was no longer considered necessary given the low water-content specification.

Which standards are used with prEN 15376?

Standard	What it contributes
EN 228	Petrol specification used as the blending context for ethanol
EN ISO 3170	Manual sampling
EN ISO 4259-2	Precision statements and dispute resolution
EN 15485 / EN 15486	Sulfur content methods
EN 15487	Phosphorus content method and dispute method for phosphorus
EN 15488	Copper content method
EN 15489	Water content method and dispute method for water
EN 15491	Total acidity method
EN 15492	Inorganic chloride and sulfate methods
EN 15691	Dry residue method
EN 15692	Water content method
EN 15721	Higher alcohols, methanol and other impurities
EN 15769	Appearance by visual method
EN 15837	Phosphorus, copper and sulfur by ICP OES, and dispute method for copper and sulfur
EN 15938	Electrical conductivity
EN 16640	Bio-based carbon content by radiocarbon method

What does the prEN 15376 document contain?

prEN 15376 contains a clause on sampling, a clause on requirements and test methods, and a table of generally applicable requirements for undenatured ethanol. The table ties each property to a laboratory method, so the document can be used directly for product testing and acceptance checks. It also includes practical guidance on dyes, additives, denaturing, biological-origin verification, climate-related water behavior, and dispute handling.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Goriva za motorna vozila - Etanol kot komponenta za dodajanje motornemu
bencinu - Zahteve in preskusne metode
Automotive fuels - Ethanol as a blending component for petrol - Requirements and test
methods
Kraftstoffe für Kraftfahrzeuge - Ethanol zur Verwendung als Blendkomponente in
Ottokraftstoff - Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
Carburants pour automobiles - Ethanol comme base de mélange à l'essence -
Exigences et méthodes d'essais
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 15376
ICS:
71.080.60 Alkoholi. Etri Alcohols. Ethers
75.160.20 Tekoča goriva Liquid fuels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
August 2026
ICS 71.080.60; 75.160.20 Will supersede EN 15376:2014
English Version
Automotive fuels - Ethanol as a blending component for
petrol - Requirements and test methods
Carburants pour automobiles - Ethanol comme base de Kraftstoffe für Kraftfahrzeuge - Ethanol zur Blendung
mélange à l'essence - Exigences et méthodes d'essais in Benzin - Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 19.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 15376:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Sampling . 5
4 Requirements and test met . 5
4.1 Dyes and markers . 5
4.2 Additives . 5
4.3 Denaturing . 5
4.4 Generally applicable requirements and related test methods . 5
4.5 Climate dependent requirements . 6
4.6 Precision and dispute . 7
Bibliography . 8

European foreword
This document (prEN 15376:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 19 “Gaseous
and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin”, the
secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 15376:2014.
This document has originally been prepared under mandate M/344 given to CEN by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association along with other standards intended to be
complementary to the regulatory measures contained in various EU Directives, see [1], [2], [3] and [4].
If (bio)ethanol is meant for use as automotive fuel component, this document applies. It is intended to
call up this European Standard in EN 228 [5], in order to define the quality of (bio)ethanol which is
added/blended to the petrol.
Significant technical changes between this document and the previous edition EN 15376:2014 are:
— removal of dated references based on the decision of CEN/TC 19 to remove all dated references in
fuel specifications ensuring that the latest version applies;
— removal of footnote b in Table 1 for EN 15721 found not necessary considering the low level of
water content specification.
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and test methods for marketed and delivered ethanol to be used
as an extender for automotive fuel for petrol engine vehicles in accordance with the requirements of
EN 228 [5]. It is applicable to ethanol used for blending at all levels up to and including 85 % (V/V).
NOTE For the purposes of this document, the term “% (m/m)” and “% (V/V)” are used to represent
respectively the mass fraction, µ, and the volume fraction, φ.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 15485, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of sulfur content — Wavelength
dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method
EN 15486, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of sulfur content — Ultraviolet
fluorescence method
EN 15487, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of phosphorus content —
Ammonium molybdate spectrometric method
EN 15488, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of copper content — Graphit
...