A new framework of sanctions, which even provides for a two-year “lockout”, comes into effect from today for gas stations involved in fuel smuggling and tax evasion.

The new provisions passed in the context of the latest tax law are activated after their publication in the Official Gazette and AADE is preparing intensive checks at petrol stations with the assistance of consumers who have already made specific complaints in its special application.

In the battle against smuggling and tax evasion, the fuel trading companieswhich become jointly responsible for the proper operation of the gas stations with which they cooperate.

They should check if it exists and works input – output system at the gas stations they work with, to check fuel quality every year and above all to stop working with offending gas stations as well as with everything owned by the same persons, if they don’t want to be faced with sanctions.

For companies, the law provides for due diligence measures, the violation of which leads to fines from 5,000 to 30,000 euros per station. It is foreseen that the AADE will make an annual publication of the sanctions it imposes on legal entities obliged to observe due diligence measures.

In addition, the law provides for a separate framework of sanctions for the gas stations themselves to deal with smuggling, counterfeiting and interventions in the input-output systems.

These violations lead to sealing the gas station facility for two years with the sealing and prohibition of activity automatically extending to all gas stations of the same property.

Especially at gas stations owned by petroleum trading companies or their 100% subsidiaries, the sealing of all the stores is imposed if five stores are sealed within a period of three months.

A two-year lock-out is also provided for in the case where the owners of the gas station or the additional persons (the persons to whom the responsibility of operating the business has been assigned) obstruct the control by using violence or threats.

The law also closes “loopholes” that allowed the “lock” to practically remain on paper. It is expressly stated that:

A change or cessation of activity at the time of the sealing of the natural or legal person in whose name the facility operated does not prevent the sealing of the facility.
The natural or legal persons or legal entities whose gas station facility was sealed are prohibited from operating in any other way or capacity or from participating in energy products trading or trading operations for two years from the detection of the violation.