Gas station owners reject charges that they cheat customers

Small gas station owners claim that they are not responsible for the low quality of their fuel and point to wholesalers and producers as the source of all evil and have demanded that they also become subject to meticulous inspection. According to the Polish Liquid Fuels Chamber (PIPP), ‘doctoring' of fuel rarely takes place at gas stations. The body, therefore, feels compelled to extend its inspections to the entire fuel distribution chain. "We are considering turning to government to change respective regulations," said Maciej Powroźnik, the head of PIPP. The chamber's latest move is a response to a Trade Inspection report that branded many small petrol retailers as 'cheats.' Several of them have already protested against the report and claim that they will try to have their names taken off the 'black list.' According to PIPP, fuel traders are forced to cheat because of high excise duty on petrol. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) J.K.