Nearly 3 percent of liquid fuel samples at petrol stations examined by the Trade Inspection in 2011 did not meet the quality standards, compared to nearly 3,5 percent the year before. However, the quality of petrol, LPG and biofuels has improved considerably

Non-compliance of fuel parameters with standard requirements negatively affects the operation of engine – it may result in the increase in fuel consumption, deterioration of engine’s technical condition, and consequently lead to its failure. Thus, motorists have to incur the costs of engine repairs and overhauls as well as put up with inconveniences while driving. For this reason inspectors of the Trade Inspection have been controlling nearly all types of fuels available in the market - diesel fuel, petrol, LPG, biofuels and light fuel oil. The Act on fuel quality monitoring and scrutinizing system, which has been in force for four years, allows for performing inspections at any stage of distribution - from producers, warehouses, wholesalers, transport to petrol stations. The results of the inspection clearly demonstrate a considerable decrease in sulphur content in the samples of liquid fuels.

Random selection of petrol stations

According to report of random inspections performed in 2011, the quality of liquid fuels at petrol stations has improved considerably – 2.99 percent of tested samples failed to meet the standards (3.46 percent a year before). Furthermore, the quality of petrol poured into tanks has enhanced 2.64 percent of examined samples, compared to 3.44 the previous year. There has been a slight improvement in the quality of diesel fuel – 3.45 percent of samples did not meet the requirements, compared to 3.49 percent in 2010.

The random inspection of LPG conducted in 2011 showed irregularities in 2.35 percent of tested samples, compared to 3.72 percent the year before. The greatest discrepancy was identified at inspected petrol stations located in the following voivodeships: Świętokrzyskie – 10.53 percent, Warmińsko-Mazurskie 6.25 percent and Łódzkie – 4.35 percent. 

The Trade Inspection has also controlled the quality of liquid bio-fuels offered in the market. The inspection carried out nationwide revealed irregularities in six samples of fuels – 5.83 percent of the tested samples. The inspection covered 96 petrol stations and seven wholesalers in total.

Additionally, the inpectors tested three samples of light fuel oil collected from three undertakings towards the content of sulphur - all of them met the quality requirements. The inspection covered three voivodeships.

Petrol stations indicated in complaints

The Trade Inspection also performed inspections at stations indicated in drivers’ complaints, by law enforcement authorities and those where irregularities were identified beforehand. Out of 479 samples of diesel fuel and petrol collected at 418 stations, the quality of 39 was questioned,  including 32 samples of diesel fuel (10.53 percent) and 7 petrol samples (4 percent). Most irregularities in the quality of fuel witnessed the following voivodeships: Warmińsko-Mazurskie (22.22 percent), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (21.74 percent), Opolskie (16.67 percent), Śląskie (12.85 percent). No irregularities were found in Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships.

Questioned parameters

In the case of diesel fuel, mostly too low ignition temperature and the non-compliance with sulphur content were questioned – from 12 mg/kg to 316 mg/kg compared to the maximum standard level of 10 mg/kg. The standard temperature for ignition is 55ºC whereas at some stations it was below 40ºC. Too low ignition temperature may threaten with the danger of explosion of diesel fuel vapours while filling up. On the other hand, high sulphur content contributes to engine corrosion and wear of some engine components.  

In the case of petrol, most reservations concerned the non-compliance of vapours pressure – it results in problems with starting the engine, or even its total failure caused by the creation of vapour locks. Moreover, the inspectors questioned the failure to meet the requirements of MON (Motor Octane Number) – its insufficient level may result in improper combustion, which in turn causes loud and irregular engine work and increased fuel consumption.

In the case of LPG, the most common violation regarded the parameter towards the corrosive effect of LPG on copper.  The corrosion causes inter alia a damage of engine components as well as accelerated wear of its components.

Actions of TI

As a result of inspections carried out in 2011, the TI  lodged to prosecution authorities 62 notifications of alleged crime. So far, proceedings have been instituted in 38 cases: one indictment was filed, 17 cases were discontinued due to lack of features of a crime, failure to find the offender or negligible negative effects of the act, 8 proceedings are still pending. The existing regulations provide severe penalties for selling poor quality fuel – i.e. fine of up to PLN 1 mln or imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years.

Furthermore, the Trade Inspection issued 13 decisions ordering non-compliant liquid fuels to be withdrawn from the market and provided the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (eng. ERO/pl. URE) with information on 49 petrol stations and wholesalers, which infringed the terms of liquid fuel licenses and the regulations of the Energy Law Act. The President of ERO has the power to prohibit undertakings infringing the conditions of their licenses from selling fuel.

Fuel in 2012

During the first two months of 2012, the TI controlled 197 petrol stations and 10 wholesalers. Out of 222 collected fuel samples, the quality of 20 (i.e. 9.01 percent) was questioned. As regards LPG,  the quality of 4 (i.e. 8.16 percent) out of 49 tested samples was put into question.

A map of petrol stations

Over 2400 petrol stations and wholesales examined (at request of UOKiK) by the Trade Inspection in the years 2010-2011, can be found on special maps available at UOKiK’s website. The application allows for searching a station and wholesale based on a voivodeship, town, type of entity (station or wholesale) and category of petrol on offer (ON, Pb, LPG). The legend under the map includes information on results of petrol quality inspection, presented by letters and symbols.

Letter D means the compliance of a given sample with the quality requirements (parameters) specified in the Regulation of the Minister of Economy of 9 December 2008 on quality requirements for liquid fuels (Journal of Laws No. 221, item. 1441). Other symbols signify a parameter marked with the symbol and tested on a given petrol sample is non-compliant with the standard provided in the Regulation concerning the quality requirements for liquid fuels.

Where to seek assistance

If the fuel damaged the engine, thus resulting in incurring the cost of repairs by the consumer, one should file a complaint to the station owner, presenting the proof of purchase. If the owner refuses to accept the complaint, one can attempt to enforce the rights before the courts, using the free assistance of consumer ombudsmen. Information about stations selling poor quality fuel can be submitted to the Office on a special form.

If during the refuelling to the full, the pump shows more litres than the tank of the vehicle can actually fit, one should report this fact to the Central Office of Measures. Inspectors of the Central Office of Measures may control the indicated station and check if the pump meter does in fact indicate incorrect amount of fuel poured into the tank.

Updated list of locations inspected by the TI is available at the website of UOKiK.

Additional information for the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Phone: +48 22 55 60 106
Fax: +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail: malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl