I know its not a ford question, but does anyone know if lambda sensors on imported scoobies are any different to uk spec?

My mate has an imported STi 1 and it's just failed an MOT with a reading of 0.8% when it should be 0.2% the garage are coming up with all the spool about getting one in from Japan and all that cr@p!

anyone got any ideas to why this could be so high, could it be the cat if it's not the lambda?