Adulterated fuel in SP: gas station is completely banned by the ANP for selling gasoline with 52% anhydrous ethanol (determined is 27%) and ethanol with methanol above 0.5%!

Still in São Paulo, there was a fine at another station that displayed a commercial brand even though it was registered as a white flag with the ANP in addition to not reporting the origin of gasoline, diesel and ethanol.

Between August 15th and 19th, the ANP carried out inspection actions in the fuel market in ten units of the Federation, covering all regions of the country. Among all the stations in different Brazilian states verified by the Agents, what caught the most attention was a gas station in São Paulo, which was fined and completely banned for selling adulterated gasoline and ethanol!

In the actions, the inspectors verified whether the Agency's rules – such as meeting fuel quality standards, supplying the correct volume by the pumps, presenting adequate equipment and documentation, among others – are being complied with.        

The ANP also verifies that all information is being provided correctly to the consumer. The Agency has been verifying compliance with Decree No. 11.121/2022, which made it mandatory to display liquid fuel prices on 22/06/2022, in addition to the current price, which is already obligatorily displayed on its panels. In some locations, the ANP has worked together with Procons, based on agreements or partnerships. 

The Agency also carries out other actions in partnership with various public bodies, in joint operations or task forces.   

See below the results of the main actions of the ANP in the states of AM, SC, RS, PR, SP, GO, MG, PE, CE and RJ:

The segments of gas stations were verified; LPG dealers; ethanol, biodiesel and lubricant producers; lubricant dealers; hauliers-dealers-retailers (TRRs); used lubricating oil collectors; aviation fuel re-refiners and resellers in the States: 

Amazon 

The inspectors were in Tabatinga to check the operation of an aviation fuel reseller, three fuel stations and eight LPG resellers.  

Three LPG resellers were fined for irregularities such as the price panel in violation of the legislation and for not having scales for weighing cylinders, which can be requested by consumers. 

Santa Catarina 

Inspection actions were concentrated in the city of Blumenau, where 14 gas stations were inspected. One of the establishments in the municipality was fined for not having the necessary equipment for analyzing fuel, a procedure that can be requested by consumers.  

Rio Grande do Sul 

In the state, inspections were carried out at 15 fuel stations in the cities of São José do Norte and Pelotas, where the ANP participated in a joint action with the Municipal Procon and the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) on the 16th and 17th No irregularities were found. 

Paraná 

Inspection actions took place in the cities of Curitiba and Fazenda Rio Grande, totaling 11 gas stations inspected. 

In the capital, a post was fined for not operating at the minimum time provided for by law. 

São Paulo 

ANP inspectors checked the functioning of 31 economic agents, including gas stations, lubricant producers and resellers, used lubricating oil collectors and re-refiners. The inspection actions took place in the municipalities of Aguaí, Araçatuba, Boituva, Glicério, Iperó, Itu, Penápolis, São Paulo and Sorocaba. 

A producer of finished lubricating oil in Itu was fined and banned for carrying out the activity without authorization from the Agency, with 93.476 liters of basic lubricating oil seized. The operation was supported by the Center for Research and Technological Analysis (CPT) of the ANP. 

In São Paulo, a gas station was fined and completely banned (20 nozzles and four tanks) for a series of irregularities: selling common gasoline outside specification, with 52% anhydrous ethanol (the 27% determined by law); commercialize unspecified gasoline with 50% anhydrous ethanol (determined by law is 27%); commercialize hydrous ethanol out of specification in terms of alcohol content (99,5º INPM, when determined in the legislation is 92,5º to 95,4º INPM) and regarding methanol content (above 0,5%). 

Another station in the capital was fined for: not having all the equipment for testing the quality of fuels; not having a thermodensimeter (equipment used to check aspects of ethanol quality) coupled to a properly functioning hydrated ethanol pump; not correctly informing the origin of the fuel sold; and due to outdated records of equipment and tanks. 

Still in São Paulo, there was a charge against a service station that displayed a trademark even though it was registered as a white flag with the ANP, in addition to not correctly informing the origin of the fuel sold. Two other stations were fined for not having all the equipment for testing the quality of fuels, a procedure that can be requested by consumers. 

Goiás 

ANP inspectors were in the cities of Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiânia, Goiatuba, Ipameri, Itumbiara and Morrinhos. In all, 15 fuel stations, two LPG resellers (one of them unauthorized), six ethanol producers, one biodiesel producer and two transporters-resellers-retailers (TRRs) were inspected. 

In Aparecida de Goiânia, an LPG resale that did not have authorization from the Agency to operate was fined, banned and had 15 canisters seized. In Goiatuba, a station was fined for not having all the equipment used in the analysis of fuel quality, a procedure that can be requested by consumers. 

Three gas stations in Goiânia were also fined for not having all the equipment used in the analysis of fuel quality. Two other posts in the city were fined for malfunctioning of the thermodensimeter (equipment used to check aspects of ethanol quality) attached to the hydrous ethanol supply pumps. 

Minas Gerais 

The ANP inspected 16 regulated agents in the field, in the municipalities of Belo Horizonte, Sete Lagoas and Lagoa Santa. Gas stations and LPG dealers were inspected.  

Inspectors continue to carry out the work of verifying and collecting the sales prices charged for liquid fuels, in addition to verifying the implementation of the price framework required by Decree No. 11.121, of July 6, 2022.  

In the municipality of Sete Lagoas, a service station was fined for not presenting the fuel quality analysis instruments, which are mandatory because consumers can demand these tests.  

In Belo Horizonte, there was the seizure and collection of automotive lubricants sold without registration with the ANP at a gas station. 

Pernambuco 

Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Nazaré da Mata and Recife were the cities visited by ANP inspectors during this period. In all, they checked the operation of 10 gas stations. 

One gas station in each municipality was fined for the same reason: not having the instruments used to analyze the quality of fuels, a test that can be requested by consumers. 

Ceará 

Fourteen gas stations and one LPG dealer were inspected in the city of Iguatu. Six gas stations were fined by the ANP, for irregularities such as the lack of fuel quality analysis instruments, non-compliance with safety standards, presenting a price panel in disagreement with the legislation and problems with the thermodensimeter (equipment attached to ethanol pumps to verify aspects quality), among others. 

Rio de Janeiro 

In Rio, the ANP coordinated a task force focused on inspecting the supply of vehicular natural gas (CNG). The operation took place in the capital and in Teresópolis, in the Serrana Region. 

In addition to the Agency, Ipem/Inmetro, Detro-RJ, the Military Police, the Municipal Transport Secretariat (SMTR), Operation Foco (linked to the Civil House of the State Government) and Procon-RJ participated. Each body acted within its legal attributions.  

The ANP found no irregularities in the 11 economic agents it inspected. The inspectors verified that the supply with CNG was respecting the maximum pressure limit, which is 220 bar. The Agency also noted other items, such as the quality of liquid fuels and guidance on good practice in the CNG market.   

Consult the results of ANP actions throughout Brazil  

According to the ANP, the Agency's inspection actions are planned based on various intelligence vectors, such as consumer complaints, data from the Agency's Fuel Quality Monitoring Program (PMQC), information from other agencies and the area of ANP Intelligence, among others. In this way, actions are focused on regions and economic agents with signs of irregularities.  

To monitor all ANP inspection actions, access the Supply Inspection Dynamic Panel. The database is updated monthly, with a period of two months between the month of inspection and the month of publication, due to compliance with legal requirements and operational aspects.

Establishments fined by the ANP are subject to fines that can range from R$5 to R$5 million. Sanctions are applied only after an administrative process, during which the economic agent has the right to full defense and contradictory, as defined by law.      

Complaints about irregularities in the fuel market can be sent to the ANP through the Contact Us or telephone 0800 970 0267 (toll free).