| While the use of agriculturally-based biomass is receiving increased attention for the sustainable use of natural resources, it is imperative that products produced and sold to the public are safe and meet specifications established by national associations as well as standards set by federal and state laws. In the case of biodiesel, current specifications only exist for pure (100%) biodiesel and do not address biodiesel blends that may be sold to the general public. Regulations are needed at the State level in order to insure that products produced or imported and sold in the states meet quality standards. In the absence of such standards, biodiesel products sold to consumers could have low flashpoints or exhibit cold-flow instability. The use of such products could damage equipment engines and undermine consumer confidence in this fledgling industry. For example, proposed regulations in Mississippi intend to limit the amount of alcohol allowed in biodiesel blends for retail sale and require current certificates of analysis to address product stability. Such regulations should assist the industry and allow it to grow on a national scale. |