Gas operator Easygas yesterday admitted circulating illegal gas cylinders with no serial numbers, claiming these were a faulty batch sent by their Italian supplier.

As the company began to withdraw them from circulation, the authorities said there was “no cause for alarm” because non-compliance did not render the cylinders unsafe – but that claim was disputed by the Consumers’ Association.

The Times yesterday reported that gas cylinders without their necessary serial numbers had been tracked down by the consumer authority, following an investigation.

Worried customers panicked and the authorities attempted to quell their fears.

“The fact that a gas cylinder might not clearly display the serial numbers and/or the manufacturer’s details as required by law, means they are not compliant with the regulations,” the Malta Resources Authority and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority said in a joint statement. “But this does not make them unsafe.”

Easygas later admitted it had a number of cylinders in circulation which did not have the necessary serial numbers, but these would be diligently removed from the market.

“Easygas is conducting the necessary checks to establish how many of its cylinders have no numbers and will be withdrawing them from circulation,” the statement said. Easygas stressed that its illegal cylinders were as unsafe as relatively new cars without number plates: “It is not dangerous, but it is also not legal, and we are committed to removing them,” it added.

However, the company also called on the authorities to conduct an investigation into older cylinders on the market which constituted a “much bigger safety threat” because they had not been duly recertified.

Meanwhile, the authorities have still not said how many cylinders have been withdrawn from the market.

But they stressed they were working together to ensure all cylinders sold to consumers clearly displayed numbers and manufacturer’s details as required by law.

Both authorities are taking all the necessary actions, including, but not limited, to enforcement measures as contemplated by law, to ensure that only compliant cylinders reach consumers.

The non-compliant cannisters were ordered to be retested and given all the proper markings. Then they will be placed on the market again.

The authorities said they were also carrying out random checks at filling stations and with gas distributors.

The watchdogs recommended that consumers should verify that their cylinders had the necessary serial numbers and manufacturer details on their shroud or body.

“Consumers should be more vigilant and ensure that when buying LPG cylinders, the markings are present. If not, they have the right to refuse them,” they said.

The Consumers’ Association praised the MRA and MCCAA for taking the necessary action to ensure conformity with the regulations but expressed disagreement with the claim that these cylinders were not unsafe.

“We do not agree with the categorical statement that even if they do not comply with the regulations they are still safe. Otherwise, does this means that regulations are superfluous? Traceability is an additional feature in ensuring product safety.”

The association thanked the authorities for keeping the public informed on what to look out for but suggested an even more comprehensive explanation, including diagrams indicating what serial numbers should look like.

Liquigas first brought the matter to light when it claimed in a letter to the Police Commissioner that Easygas was sending the yellow cylinders it obtained from former Enemalta customers to Italy.

Liquigas, which claims ownership of these cylinders, said they were being repainted in the country after the serial numbers were scraped off.

Legally, it is still unclear who these cylinders belong to, though the government said it would be clarifying the issue of ownership through a legal notice.

Last month, Italian police found 1,500 “misappropriated” cylinders in a gas plant.

Easygas says it sent the cylinders to Italy for storage but never issued instructions for them to be modified.

Got an illegal cylinder at home? Report it to the Malta Resources Authority on 2295 5000 or the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority on 2395 2000.