will ban substandard liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters from circulation, according to the governmental decision on regulating LPG trading in the country.   Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan is in charge of this movement.

According to a source from the Government Office on July 27, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Trade and other concerned ministries and branches, before the end of 2005, to check related documents and conditions and criteria imposed on importing, trading, transporting, extracting and filling gas, that is stored in canisters for retail. The new provisions must focus on safety in dealing with the liquefied product and help gas companies and authorities to work together.

The source said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan has requested provincial and municipal People’s Committees to immediately conduct relevant agencies to investigate gas manufacturing, trading, extracting and filling enterprises. Those committing measurement cheating and having insufficient safety equipment will have their business licences revoked.

The Deputy Prime Minister also agreed to allow the Steering Committee 127 TW (A central committee for preventing trafficking, counterfeit goods and trade frauds) to cooperate with the Ministry of Finance to issue gratuity rates for competent organs which discover and deal with individuals and enterprises illegally manufacturing, trading and storing gas containers. The Deputy Prime Minister required the Steering Committee 127 TW in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Police to check sanctions related to violations in gas trading, production, importation and transportation and send their proposals regarding amending irrational clauses and improving existing ones.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister also assigned the Association for Anti-counterfeit Goods and Trademark Protection of Vietnam to join forces with relevant ministries and branches to check and issue business requirements, technical safety processes and sanctions concerning gas production and trading, and join hands with gas companies to consider sticking genuine stamps on canisters to deal with counterfeit goods and protect trademarks.

Thi Van