Petrol stations with Phase II vapour-recovery systems should display a new eye-catching certificate at a conspicuous location for easy identification, the Environmental Protection Department says.

Under the Air Pollution Control (Petrol Filling Stations) (Vapour Recovery) Regulation, stations are required to install vapour-recovery systems for their petrol-dispensing devices and a three-year grace period from March 31, 2005, has been given for retrofitting.

From this month, stations receiving a test or re-test of the vapour-recovery system are being issued with A1-sized certificates.

Volatile organic compounds, with petrol vapour being one of the more reactive species, are a major pollutant giving rise to smog. Petrol stations with the vapour-recovery system will have their emissions reduced by 95% during refuelling.

For a list of petrol stations with the systems, click here.