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LPG quality tests: SLSI lacks adequate mandate and equipment

18 Dec 2021

  • Awaiting new regulations from CAA to broaden scope
  • Can only test empty cylinders under current regulation, not components
  • SLSI test facilities outdated; in urgent need of upgrades
  • Customs and CAA use private labs due to SLSI capability gaps
By Skandha Gunasekara The Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) can only conduct standard tests on empty liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders due to the lack of proper regulations. Responding to a query from The Sunday Morning, SLSI Director – Engineering Standards Sunanda Fernando said they are permitted to test empty cylinders and that other associated parts (hoses, valves, regulators, etc.) do not come under their regulatory purview. The lack of mandate and regulatory scope of the national standards institution highlights the need for updating policies regarding regulations and compliance. “Empty cylinders are the only items covered as a compulsory item – that means compliance to the standards is compulsory. The SLSI is not a regulatory body so we cannot impose regulations. We will support any regulations imposed by a regulatory authority like the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) or import and export controllers, and support the implementation. So currently, only the empty gas cylinders are covered under the Import Controller’s gazette for the SLSI to do the inspection. So that is controlled and there are no incidents of cylinders exploding. All these incidents are due to some leakage from the valve, regulator, or hose. Still, there are no regulations in place for us to inspect those parts,” Fernando explained. He said the CAA was responsible for issuing regulations and is expected to do so to expand the SLSI’s scope. “I believe the CAA is the legal body to issue the regulation and they’re in consultation with the Import and Export Controller and going to issue a regulation to control those things as well,” he said, adding that all empty gas cylinders have met the SLSI standards. He went on to say that the SLSI also lacks the necessary equipment to carry out additional testing due to lack of regulations, as well as equipment, which would allow them to conduct additional testing. “We are short of lab equipment and there is a need for a facilities upgrade. But there needs to be regulations for implementation of tests to happen and only then are the labs upgraded and the necessary equipment are purchased by any labs. So therefore, since there are no regulations, most of the labs don’t have these facilities at the moment. Some private labs and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have these (facilities) because they manufacture LPG. Because of all these issues the SLSI will also set up some facilities to test these items,” he explained. He went on to say that the Customs Department and CAA use private companies to conduct tests that the SLSI is unable to. “We don’t have all the facilities. For the cylinders we implement the import inspection scheme. Therefore, the cylinders coming to Sri Lanka are referred to by the Sri Lanka Customs before releasing the consignment and those are tested. Some of the parameters are tested and some parameters we accept are reports from accredited labs, so based on that, those are controlled. The CAA uses private groups to take samples from the imported shipments and do the testing.” Meanwhile, a senior official at the CAA said the SLSI had to upgrade their facilities themselves and that they had informed the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB) to direct the SLSI to do so. “There is an issue of lack of equipment in the laboratories. We have asked the SLAB to instruct the SLSI to upgrade their labs and facilities to meet the testing needs.” The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the Import and Export Controller had also been requested to issue a gazette to ensure all items are tested and meet the standards of the SLSI before they are shipped. “In addition, we have also informed the Import and Export Controller to issue a gazette that will make sure that these products are tested to meet the standards of the SLSI from the country of origin. Then the SLSI will test a sample here and be allowed into the country only if they meet the standards. We expect it will be gazetted as soon as possible.”


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