ATIEL, the Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry, has released the 26th issue of its Code of Practice (CoP 26)—a significant milestone that, for the first time, incorporates a statement on the use of Re-Refined Base Stocks (RRBS) in automotive engine oils.
The updated Code of Practice reflects ATIEL’s ongoing commitment to supporting the European lubricants industry in meeting evolving technical, regulatory and sustainability expectations. The inclusion of RRBS element represents a major step forward in aligning industry practices with the principles of resource efficiency and circularity, supporting the EU’s Green Deal ambitions.
This Issue 26 comes into effect on 19th December, and it supersedes Issue 25. Issue 24 of the CoP remains available on the ATIEL website, for valid claims against ACEA 2022 Heavy Duty sequences, until October 1st, 2026.
The ATIEL Code of Practice – in operation since 1996 – has been developed jointly by ATIEL, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and the Additives Technical Committee (ATC).
This Code of Practice has been devised by ATIEL on behalf of the European engine lubricants industry, including developers, marketers and manufacturers of lubricants and forms an integral part of the European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System (EELQMS). By providing clear and consistent guidance for formulators and marketers, it is intended to aid continuous improvement in the development of engine lubricants. This helps to ensure consistency and validity of claims whilst maintaining the high performance and quality standards expected by OEMs, regulators and consumers.
The CoP issue 26 is available on the ATIEL website.
