Pump owners to bring pump price display up to date

Filling station owners have until the end of the year to replace or adjust fuel pumps that cannot show prices over three digits, the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) said today. Certain pumps cannot show more than three digits and are unable to reflect fuel prices over R9.99.

The SABS said that it had together with the Department of Minerals and Energy agreed to give pump owners a concession in terms of the Trade Metrology Act which ensures fair trade and national standards.

Companies have until the end of the year to make the adjustments to their pumps or buy new pumps, but until then the price per litre on the affected pumps will have to be marked at a tenth the price of the official price per litre.

The price per litre and the price to pay displays will need to be multiplied by 10 and stickers showing X10 will be attached to pumps at both the price per litre and total amount to pay indications.

Suppliers of the affected pumps will have to submit proposed modifications to the Type Approval Section of the Legal Metrology Department of SABS Regulatory for evaluation and approval.

The measures include a directive to start awareness campaigns to inform consumers of the proposals, through signage on the pumps, in their driveways and in the public media. – Sapa