• Last year the Trade Inspection questioned 1.90% of liquid fuel samples taken at randomly selected petrol stations.
• This is slightly less than in 2017.
• The Inspection has been already provided with the first results of inspections carried out in 2019.

The Trade Inspection checks four types of liquid fuels available on the market: diesel, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and biofuels. During the first inspections in 2003, the percentage of samples of liquid fuels not meeting the quality requirements was 30%. In subsequent years, the number of irregularities found in randomly selected petrol stations dropped significantly and since 2015 it has remained below 3%.

As a result of our inspections, the quality of liquid fuels in Poland is improving year by year. In 2018, only 1.90% of gasoline and diesel samples taken at randomly selected gas stations did not meet the standards. This is less than in 2017, says Marek Niechciał, the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

The quality of liquid fuels is inspected in two ways: firstly, at randomly selected stations as it seems that this way of typing better reflects the situation of fuel quality in Poland. Secondly, the Trade Inspection controls those entrepreneurs that consumers complained about, where it received information from law enforcement agencies or where previous inspections disclosed irregularities. In total, considering the stations selected randomly and based on consumers’ complaints, 3.71% samples failed to meet the quality requirements.

Randomly selected petrol stations

As far as randomly sampled liquid fuels in 2018 are concerned, 1.90% of them failed to meet the quality requirements (compared to 2.34% the year before). As in 2017, consumers less frequently complained about petrol (0.75%) than diesel oil (3.40%). The random sample was slightly larger than in the previous year: in total, the inspectors examined 947 samples taken at 947 petrol stations.

The largest irregularities occurred in the following provinces: Kujawsko-Pomorskie (7.69%) and Mazowieckie (4.72%). On the other hand, in the Małopolskie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Pomorskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Wielkopolskie provinces, the Trade Inspection did not question any of the random samples.

Random tests on the quality of LPG conducted in 2018 showed irregularities in 1.43% of tested samples (compared to 2.14% the year before).

Outside the system inspection - stations that consumers complained about

As every year, the Trade Inspection also conducted inspections of stations that drivers complained about, station that were selected by law enforcement agencies, or those where irregularities were found in previous years. Out of 664 diesel and petrol samples taken at 575 stations, inspectors questioned 6.63% (compared to 3.76% the year before). Reservations were made mostly about diesel oil (9.98% of samples compared to 4.49% the year before). As for petrol, the 2018 inspection revealed much less irregularities, i.e. 0.82% compared to 2.56% the year before. As part of liquefied petroleum gas controls, inspectors questioned 2% of samples, which means an improvement compared to 4.55% in 2017. The highest number of departures from the quality requirements of liquid fuels was found in the following provinces: Kujawsko-Pomorskie (18.52 %), Zachodniopomorskie (17.54%) and Wielkopolskie (10%).

Questioned parameters

As for diesel, the most frequently contested parameters included oxidation stability, i.e. resistance to oxidation given in hours, and too low ignition temperature. Oxidation is manifested by fuel turbidity and the formation of resin deposits in the tank and the supply system. It may lead to clogged fuel filters, pollution of injection valves and other defects in various elements of the fuel system. Too low ignition temperature poses a danger of oil vapour explosion when pouring fuel from the pump to the tank.

As far as petrol is concerned, the inspection most frequently revealed cases of not keeping values specified for the vapour pressure parameter. Failure to meet this parameter may affect engine performance (it may cough and die). The second most frequent default was the failure to meet the Research Octane Number (RON) requirements. Too low an octane number may be the reason for the occurrence of knocking combustion in the engine, which means incorrect combustion that causes the engine not only to operate loudly and unevenly but also to consume more fuel.

As for LPG, the Trade Inspection voiced reservations about poor results of the corrosive effect on copper and exceeded permissible level of total sulphur content, which may cause corrosion of some engine components.

Actions taken by the Trade Inspection

In 2018, the Trade Inspection issued 18 decisions on the withdrawal of fuels that did not meet the standards and informed the Energy Regulatory Office on 77 fuel stations, where inspectors found that the terms of liquid petroleum concessions and energy law provisions were violated. The President of the Energy Regulatory Office may impose a fine on those entrepreneurs that violate the concession terms by selling fuels of poor quality.

The Trade Inspection also sent 44 notifications of the suspicion of committing a crime to public prosecutor’s offices. So far public prosecutors have initiated investigations in 35 cases, of which 1 indictment was filed to the court and 23 cases were cancelled because they showed no features of crime; in two cases prosecutors refused to initiate proceedings. Nine notifications have not yet been considered by prosecutors and courts. The provisions in force provide for severe sanctions for selling poor quality fuel: from a fine of up to PLN 1 million to imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years.

Pending inspections in 2019

We have already been provided with the first results of petrol quality control carried out in 2019. They concern both entrepreneurs selected randomly and those that were complained about. From the beginning of the year to 31 March 2019, the Trade Inspectorate collected and examined a total of 425 samples of liquid fuels, including 225 samples of diesel oil and 200 samples of petrol. 10 samples of liquid fuels (2.35%) did not meet the quality requirements, including 8 diesel samples (3.56%) and 2 petrol samples (1%). As for LPG, by 31 March 2019, 85 samples were collected and tested, two of them did not meet the requirements, which account for 2.35%.

Where to find information

The list of petrol stations and wholesalers inspected by the Trade Inspection at the request of UOKiK can be found on the Office website on a special map. Under the map, there is a legend explaining the symbols and letters used in the tables. The letter D means that the sample meets the quality requirements (parameters) required by the law.

Where to get help

Do you think that poor-quality petrol damaged your car engine? Did you pay the repair costs? File a claim with the petrol station’s owner. Inform UOKiK about the station that sells petrol of poor quality, using this special form and notify the Trade Inspection. It will help you amicably resolve the dispute with the station owner. If it does not agree to amicable settlement, one of the Consumer Ombudsmen will provide free legal assistance in judicial proceedings.

If during the refuelling the petrol pump at the station showed a few litres of petrol more than the fuel tank can hold, contact the Central Office of Measures. Inspectors of the Office of Measures may inspect such a dishonest station and check whether the petrol pump meter indicates the correct amount of petrol being filled.

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
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