‘Lives of consumers should not be endangered’

By Suresh Perera

A top level Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) team met with Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam last week to discuss the scope of enacting legislation to regulate the composition of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) in existing cylinders and new products introduced to the market.

The move comes in the backdrop of the controversy over Litro Gas Lanka launching a new 18-litre product, which was described as a “violation of consumer laws”.

Despite the weight being reduced by three kilograms, the domestic 9.18 kg hybrid cylinder was priced Rs. 1,395 – a mere one hundred rupees less than the regular 12.5-kilogram cylinder.

“The butane and propane composition in cooking gas should be regulated for public safety”, says Thushan Gunawardena, CAA’s Executive Director.

It should be ensured that gas companies don’t endanger the lives of consumers by changing the composition for profiteering by ignoring possible risk factors of increasing propane in the composition, he said.

“We have sought to regulate the composition of LPG domestic cylinders under Section 18 of the CAA Act”, he told The Sunday Island.

Stressing on the immediate need for legal clout to “mitigate the risk factors typically associated with LPG composition”, Gunawardena has already written to CAA Chairman, Major General (Rtd) D. M. Shantha Dissanayaka, with copies to the President’s office, AG’s Department and State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, calling for new laws to adequately scrutinize the LPG sector’s manufacturing process.

He said the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) has received complaints that cylinder valves are leaking due to the composition change. This could pose a serious hazard and possible loss of life, if true.

Under Section 7 (a), the objects of the CAA shall be “to protect consumers against the marketing of goods or the provision of services which are hazardous to life and property of consumers”, Gunawardena further says in his letter.

“Therefore, we need to formally engage the SLSI to publish the required LPG standards as per Act No. 6 of 1984 and adopt the standard under Section 12 (2) of the CAA Act and publish a gazette informing adoption of the standard set by SLSI”, he continued.

“If we don’t take action to enact new regulations for the LPG sector to adequately scrutinize the manufacturing process, we are in contravention of the CAA Act for inaction by virtue as per in section 12 (1) & (2) of the Act”, he pointed out.

The composition of LPG in other countries is regulated. However, the composition varies from country to country and is generally decided by the climatic conditions, the CAA Executive Director explained, while adding that “we need to scientifically get the composition from SLSI or a similar institution for the best composition for Sri Lanka for propane+ and butane percentages that forms LPG”.

As far as available data shows, a propane rich mixture is used only in cold countries and a butane rich mixture is more suitable for tropical countries like Sri Lanka. According to reports, butane has a higher fuel value than propane and makes it ideal for domestic use as a propane rich mixture carries a risk during handing, Gunawardena noted.

On Wednesday, an extraordinary gazette notification was issued under the CAA Act No. 09 of 2003 directing all manufacturers and traders of LPG to ensure that adequate quantities of 12.5kg domestic cylinders are available for sale at all outlets island-wide.

“No trader who has in his possession or custody or under his control 12.5kg LPG cylinders shall refuse to sell or in any manner directly or indirectly compel consumers not to purchase such cylinders”, it warned.

Asked what prompted the special direction, Gunawardena said the CAA has received more than one thousand complaints so far about the non-availability of 12.5kg domestic cylinders in the marketplace.

What is the use of the CAA if it cannot do its job of regulating the market?, he queried. “A regulator serves no purpose if the system is allowed to be manipulated”.

“We need to push for a directive to prohibit the sale of 18-litre cylinders”, he emphasized.