SGS Romania prepares the launching in our country of the Seal of Quality program, regarding the quality of fuels available through distribution networks in Romania. The program is based on random checks operated by SGS experts in their laboratories and has been implemented in the Czech Republic, where over a thousand stations are annually checked. We learned from Adrian Cuțitei, Business Manager at SGS Romania, the benefits of this program and why companies are interested to participate.

Mr. Adrian Cuțitei, the Seal of Quality program is one of the initiatives most worthy of interest in recent years for the fuel distribution sector in Romania. Please explain briefly what is intended by this program.

The Seal of Quality program is conceived as an instrument. It works differently for each party involved, but it helps everyone, from fuel producers and distributors to drivers and state authorities, ultimately contributing to both environmental protection and the recovery of business climate in the local fuel market.

More specifically, through this program we monitor the quality of fuel distributed through retail stations. It is one of the basic needs in this sector, since the route on which fuels travel from producer to fuel tank is very long and complicated.

Who are the beneficiaries and who should support this program?

All large fuel producers guarantee quality and compliance of their products at the exit from the refinery. But from there, from the refinery gate to users, gasoline and diesel go through several chains and several operators intervene. We are first talking about a first transport, usually with high capacity reservoirs. Fuels then reach storage, and from storage they are delivered by road to stations. From stations only fuels reach the end-consumer. In all these situations, risks of distortion of quality may arise: water residues, contamination and so on. Fuel producers are thus interested in ensuring an optimal transparency and traceability regarding the „route” of own fuels, from refinery to end-user. They will thus get an additional guarantee for the quality of their products and the certainty that technological performances reach consumers in full.

In turn, fuel distributors will have a better picture of product quality and a guarantee of keeping it throughout the chain and territory covered. Seal of Quality confirms the declared quality of fuels in all distribution points served. Moreover, the distribution stations participating in the program will clearly differentiate from competitors who do not meet quality standards and currently compete unfairly, delivering at lower prices fuels of poor or inconsistent quality.

What are the benefits for drivers, the end-users of fuels?

For the end-consumer, Seal of Quality is an instrument helping it realize the importance of fuel quality. You have probably heard various comments from the category of urban myths, like the X gasoline „contains water” or the Y diesel „destroys your engine”. Using products that are Seal of Quality certified, drivers will be able to make sure that the respective fuel maintains the reliability and performances of the vehicle. Thus, for end-users, natural or legal persons, it will be much easier to choose the desired product, based on simplified and accurate information regarding the type, characteristics and implicitly the quality of the purchased fuel.

Finally, the Seal of Quality program is important for the authorities because Romania has a number of commitments to the European Commission, regarding the monitoring of fuels sold on the national territory. The Seal of Quality program is an initiative of the industry that independently meets the existing needs of public authorities. Last but not least, as an instrument for reducing the gray or black fuel market, Seal of Quality can contribute to increasing revenues to the budget, by supporting the sales of correct producers and distributors.

What is the role of SGS Romania in this program?

I believe we can talk about SGS roles… Before all, SGS is the author of the Seal of Quality concept and has all the specific knowledge in the petrochemical area, tested for decades and in thousands of projects completed worldwide. SGS is the world leader in the area of inspection, verification, testing and certification services. It has over 80,000 employees and over 1,650 subsidiaries and laboratories in 160 countries. In Romania, we are market leader in all these services, from its reestablishment in 1992, as subsidiary of the SGS group, and we have a solid presence with 550 employees and 15 offices and laboratories in all parts of the country.

Finally, an extremely important role is that of project guarantor, through the SGS Group philosophy and due to the reputation of impartiality and professionalism of SGS Romania. Through our group policy, SGS and our employees have never been and will never be engaged in commercial activities with connection to this field. We ensure the management of this project both in terms of promotion, visibility and support and from a commercial point of view, by attracting the resources needed to implement the project.

What does the Seal of Quality program consist of, more specifically?

The program is based on random checks operated by SGS experts in their laboratories and has already been implemented in the Czech Republic, where over a thousand stations are annually checked, owned by seven of the main 13 distribution networks. Specifically, each fuel distributor in the program can place the Seal of Quality sticker in stations if the products offered for sale comply with a clear set of quality requirements.

Within the Seal of Quality program, inspecting the quality of liquid fuels sold consists of two steps. The first refers to a system audit focused on processes influencing the quality of fuels. The second step consists of taking fuel samples from distribution stations and their analysis in the accredited laboratories of SGS. Based on the analysis of findings and results of the two steps, a decision is made regarding the fulfillment of program requirements and on granting the right to use the Seal of Quality mark.

Keeping the right to continue to use the Seal of Quality mark is obtained by periodical evaluations of stations that have initially obtained this right. Inspections periodically check whether the properties certified in the first step are maintained in selling points.

Specifically, fuel samples are taken periodically, depending on the results of the initial evaluation. The Seal of Quality verification program is a very good prevention method, because it registers even the smallest operational and seasonal deviations in terms of quality.

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The full version of this article can be read in printed edition of energynomics.ro Magazine, issued on June 2015.

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