Gas supplier Liquigas has not yet replaced the green regulators that were recalled by the authorities a month ago as they posed a “serious risk to consumers”.
A spokesman for the company said a consignment had been ordered and was expected to arrive “later on this month”. Once they arrived, close to 4,000 such regulators on the market would be replaced at no charge.
Early last month, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority recalled two types of regulators, the green ones manufactured by Italian supplier Lagoplast and the blue TPA Butane LR2522 regulators. It said the regulators posed a serious risk to consumers.
However, over one month later, consumers still have no option but to use this regulator since gas supplier Liquigas, which distributes the green cylinders, has not yet received the replacements.
Liquigas had said its Italian supplier had agreed to replace the regulators with an updated version, modified to be compliant with the required standards.
A woman who contacted The Times protested the length of time it was taking to replace regulators the authorities had recalled. She said she wanted to put her mind at rest that the regulator she was using at home, especially now that winter was approaching and the gas heaters came out, was safe.
A spokesman for the MCCAA said its technical regulations division continued to follow up the matter.
When asked whether it was satisfied with the length of time it was taking for the regulators to be replaced, the spokesman said: “There were no suitable regulators on the market. They couldn’t have got them from anywhere else. These had to be manufactured from scratch specifically for Malta. MCCAA is constantly (in contact with) Liquigas to ensure that the new regulators are in hand as soon as possible.”
A Liquigas spokesman reiterated that no leakage or issues of compatibility had ever been reported with any Liquicontrol regulator since its introduction last year.
“However, once the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority decided that Liquicontrol regulators are not fully compliant, Liquigas Malta has insisted that all necessary measures be taken by its supplier to ensure the highest standard of quality and safety,” he said.
He said a media announcement would be made once the new Liquicontrol regulator became available later on this month.