A UAH 4.6 million penal sanctions were imposed by the State Environmental Inspectorate in the field of market supervision over fuel quality in the first quarter of 2021. This is almost 8 times more than in the same period of 2020 (UAH 591 thousand). Andrii Maliovanyy, Head of the State Environmental Inspectorate told.

"Also for 3 months of the current year, the State Environmental Inspectorate has carried out 280 inspections at gas stations and issued 498 decisions on restrictive measures. Among them - the elimination of formal non-compliance with the requirements of technical regulations and the ban on the provision of products on the market," said Andrii Maliovanyy.

He noted that verification of the quality of fuel is important given that it contains flammable and hazardous chemicals. The use of substandard ingredients or unaccounted additives poses a huge threat to consumers.

"Currently, the State Environmental Inspectorate is carrying out enhanced control measures in the framework of market surveillance on commission of the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Each territorial body of the SEI carries out unscheduled inspections of business entities engaged in the retail sale of fuel. The results of these measures are presented for discussion in interdepartmental regional working groups, which are working out mechanisms for further control," Andrii Maliovanyy added.