WASHINGTON, USA (AFP) — The United States on Wednesday raised the limit on ethanol content in gasoline for newer vehicles amid an outcry over pollution risks and federal subsidies for corn ethanol.

In response to a request from the ethanol industry, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced it would now permit a gasoline blend with up to 15 per cent ethanol, up from a previous limit of 10 per cent — known as the E10 standard.

The new E15 limit only applies to cars and light trucks built since 2007, the EPA said.

Since 1979, E10 had been the US limit for all conventional cars and light trucks, and non-road vehicles.

EPA chief Lisa Jackson made the decision after Department of Energy (DoE) testing and reviewing data on E15’s impact on engine durability and emissions, the agency said.

“Thorough testing has now shown that E15 does not harm emissions control equipment in newer cars and light trucks,” Jackson said in a statement.

“Wherever sound science and the law support steps to allow more home-grown fuels in America’s vehicles, this administration takes those steps,” she added.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former governor of corn-rich Iowa and a fervent advocate of ethanol, called the announcement “an important step” toward making the nation more energy independent and creating “much-needed jobs” in rural America.

The announcement arrived less than three weeks ahead of the November 2 mid-term elections, in which President Barack Obama’s Democrats face the likely loss of seats in Congress to opposition Republicans.