Testing scheme to help curb illegal fuel trade

Garage owners, trying to compete with criminal gangs who supply cheaper illegal fuel along the border, are backing a voluntary independent fuel testing scheme.

Retailers, participating in the quality assurance project say they want motorists to “know we sell genuine fuel and we pay our taxes”.

The scheme has been introduced by the Irish Petrol Retailers Association, which claims that fuel laundering is costing the exchequer €200m a year.