site.btaFuel Dispensers Across All Filling Stations to Be Re-sealed Due to Tax Evasion

Fuel Dispensers Across All Filling Stations to Be Re-sealed Due to Tax Evasion

Sofia, August 19 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ordered
on Wednesday the fuel dispensers across all filling stations
re-sealed by Saturday.

A check conducted by the State Agency for Metrological and
Technical Supervision and other state authorities established
that the lead seals on fuel dispensers can be removed without
breaking them, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said during
Cabinet's Wednesday meeting. According to him, the control must
be tightened and the Economy Ministry should install new seals
across all filling stations, because the current practice gives
room for many violations in fuel retailing, which harm both the
Exchequer and customers.

Around 100,000 litres of diesel fuel and 60,000 litres of
gasoline have been impounded, Goranov said, adding that this is
just the tip of the iceberg, as the authorities have not
inspected all filling stations.

There are filling stations where 40 per cent of the fuel is
turpentine, the Prime Minister added. He requested a report from
 the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision
about the types of seals currently in use.

Borissov demanded that Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev
requests a statement from the Commission for Protection of
Competition (CPC), about whether fuel retailers have made a
cartel agreement. The Prime Minister said he could not believe
that fuel prices are almost identical across retailers, with the
 differences consisting of just one to two stotinki. Donchev
explained that the CPC is already conducting a sectoral analysis
 on fuels. Borissov asked that work on this be sped up, so that
he can be acquainted with the analysis by Friday.