Petroleum traders nationwide will be held responsible for all petroleum products in their distribution system, said Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.
Only standard petroleum products will be allowed to be sold in the market
The move is aimed to ensure that all petroleum products meet quality standards in a bid to ensure consumer safety amid rising controversy over a recent spate of vehicle fires, Hoang explained.
To realise this target, petroleum wholesalers must heighten their oversight over their entire petrol distribution systems. Only standard petroleum products will be allowed to be sold in the market, the minister insisted.
More attention should be paid to petrol importation, blending, storage, transportation and retail sale, he added.
Crackdown on unofficial petrol sales
Crackdown on street petrol sales
As part of efforts to ensure that standard petroleum products are sold to consumers, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of Market Management has requested market watchdogs nationwide to crack down on all street side petrol sale stalls.
The move came after 1,600 litres of diesel of the Petroleum Machanical Joint Stock Company (PMS) was seized at three illegal petroleum blending stations in Ho Chi Minh City’s District No. 7, said the department’s Deputy Director Vo Van Quyen.
According to Quyen, further investigations are underway to resolve the situation.
The ministry has required the state-owned Vietnam National Petroleum Corp (Petrolimex), the holding company of PMS, to clarify the responsibility of those involved in the scandal, ranging from top leaders to drivers.