Tests Find Spanish Oils Mostly Compliant

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A recent analysis of 25 engine oils by the Spanish Association of Lubricant Companies found that nearly all met a few chemical requirements as well as labeling mandates.

Officials said the program, the first of its kind in Spain, should help give domestic consumers more confidence in their market.

There are cases of noncompliance with certain criteria, but theyre very rare, Aselube Director Javier Poveda told Lube Report. In those cases, we have informed the companies affected so that they can make the necessary rectifications.

The initiative, results of which were first reported in the March issue of the associations monthly newsletter, Lubricantes News, collected samples of 25 products, all of them SAE 5W-30 oils meeting ACEA (the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers) C3 sequence or 10W-40 ACEA A3/B4. Thirteen of the oils are marketed by association members and 12 by non-members. The association inspected the labels of each product to check whether they complied with various requirements. They also had a laboratory check the volume of product to check the accuracy of labeled volumes and performed limited chemical tests, though the association did not say what those were.

All samples contained at least as much oil as the volume indicated on their labels, the association reported. All of the members products met labeling requirements such as identifying the viscosity grade and performance specification of the oil, providing safety information, listing information about the marketer and displaying a barcode. Only one non-member product was not properly labeled.

The association did not provide details about result of product testing other than to say it found deviations in a small number of products.

While emphasizing that the sample size was too small to allow over-arching conclusions about the market, Poveda said the results of the program should give some reassurance about the market – and that they needed some reassurance.

Its true that representatives in the lubricants market, both within and outside of Aselube, have on various occasions expressed their concern over the improper use of specifications listed on the labels of certain products from certain brands on the market, Poveda said. The message to the market, he added, is that there is a neutral organization that guarantees an unbiased and anonymous process and follows up in a fair and balanced way. The association hopes this will lead to increased self-regulation by suppliers.

The association contacted suppliers of any product that did not comply with all requirements in order to inform them and advise how they can make their products compliant.

The association plans to start preparations for a follow-up study by the end of 2019. Poveda said Aselube will expand the types of lubricants sampled, the number of brands and the number of products.

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