Two Gas Stations Storing 15 to Up to 450% More Than Last Year's Average Monthly Sales Reported
Two Online Sellers Distributing Illegal Diesel Exhaust Fluid Without Pre-Inspection Under Investigation
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit announced on the 23rd that from the 8th to the 19th, a joint crackdown team consisting of 75 members from the Climate Environment Headquarters and autonomous districts conducted an emergency crackdown on 454 intermediate distributors and gas stations of urea solution to prevent illegal distribution activities that could occur during the unstable supply period of urea solution.
As a result of the crackdown, Seoul City identified a total of four locations: two gas stations that stored urea solution exceeding their usual sales volume and two distribution sales companies that distributed products without prior inspection. In response to the rapidly changing supply situation of urea solution, a public notice prohibiting hoarding of catalysts (urea solution) and its raw material urea has been implemented to ensure fair sales. Those intending to sell urea solution are prohibited from hoarding more than 10% of the average monthly sales volume of the previous year to gain unfair profits.
The gas stations caught storing urea solution held amounts exceeding from 15% to as much as 450%, despite most gas stations being unable to sell urea solution due to supply difficulties. Seoul City reported these companies to the competent police station on charges of violating the Price Stabilization Act. Gas Station A in Gangnam-gu stored 1,500 liters, exceeding 15% of the average monthly sales volume in 2020, while Gas Station B was caught storing 1,300 liters, exceeding 450%.
Seoul City also plans to investigate two distribution sales companies that illegally distributed urea solution without conducting prior inspections or whose permits were revoked. Company C imported 480 units of Chinese-made urea solution without conducting prior inspections as required by the Air Quality Preservation Act, selling 134 of them through online shopping malls and logistics freight vehicles.
The shopping mall of the identified company induced searches under the product name AdBlue despite not meeting European certification standards and was found to have imported and distributed urea solution without awareness of manufacturing standards, lacking product quality inspection reports. Company D was also caught supplying about 80 units of urea solution with canceled (expired) quality certification under the Air Quality Preservation Act to gas stations within Seoul.
Choi Han-cheol, head of the Economic Investigation Division of Seoul's Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit, stated, "Seoul will not ease crackdowns on illegal distribution of urea solution until the supply situation stabilizes," urging citizens' interest and active reporting.
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