The United Kingdom Lubricants Association (UKLA) has launched an new lubes watchdog to monitor production standards.
The not-for-profit subsidiary will be called the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) and is already looking to recruit members from within the lubes industry. According to UKLA President, John Alton, "The VLS objective is to establish a transparent UK Lubricants market with fair competition and accurate performance and OEM specification approval claims".
It would appear that African nations, such as Nigeria, are not alone in facing the scourge of fake and poor quality oils being sold on the open market. VLS intents to monitor products which make incorrect peformance claims or do not conform to OEM specifications, despite labels which claim the contrary.
According to the new organisation: "VLS appreciates that, in some cases, this misrepresentation is due to a genuine lack of understanding and, as an organisation, realises that it must strive to increase the level of specification education for consumers and marketers alike. Equally, it recognises that the culprits are in the minority and the vast majority of lubricants supplied into the market are completely fit for purpose."
VLS will become a testing organisation, with the results being openly published as well as being referred to industry bodies and regulators where appropriate.