In the first 19 days of January, officials from the Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF) found 103 fuel business stations that were not in compliance with legal standards on the quality of octane index, quantity or price.
CCF director-general Phan Oun told The Post on January 19 that CCF experts had inspected 240 fuel business locations across the country and found that 103 stations were non-compliant.
“Among the 103 locations, our team found non-compliance with the quality of the advertised octane index, quantity or pricing. Some were fined and others were issued warnings and signed contracts stating that they would immediately cease their wrongdoing,” he said.
According to Oun, the work of inspecting fuel stations and retail depots in the capital and provinces began in July last year. The inspections were carried out to improve fairness and competition in the fuel sector.
He said that in the second half of 2021, officials of CCF branches inspected 1,980 fuel business locations and found 876 locations did not comply with the standards set.
“Of the 876 locations, seven of them were sent to court by our officials. Written warnings were issue to 56, and contracts were signed with the owners. In addition, fines were issued. The fines were dependent on the severity of the offending, but the total fines issued equalled about 1.8 billion riel [around $450,000],” he said.
Oun called on business people in the fuel and food sector to immediately stop dishonest practices and the sale of unsafe products, saying they led to reduced value for consumers and even health risks.
He added that CCF experts would continue to inspect all locations across the country, and would implement the strictest legal measures against those individuals who violated the law and took advantage of consumers.
