Source: Intelog - RS - POLICY - 02/08/2009

On the one hand, tax evasion. On the other, product adulteration. The denunciations of irregularities surrounding the supply of fuel in Santa Catarina are not dimensioned by numbers, but there is a coincidence of evidence pointing out that the problem may be more serious than it seems.

Gas station entrepreneurs are calling for more action by the state government against the increase in tax evasion, which accompanies fuel adulteration. The State Prosecutor's Office confirms that although progress has been made, the existence of cases of adulteration is still a concern. The South Brazilian Fuel Quality Committee, on the other hand, reinforces the information of gas station owners about the increase in frauds against consumers in Santa Catarina.

In the first days of August, the first concrete measure comes out. The State Secretariat of Finance sends a project to the Legislative Assembly to combat crimes of tax evasion and adulteration of fuel between Santa Catarina gas stations. The document had already been announced 18 days ago, but was not completed in time to avoid the deputies' recess, which ends today.

The focus of the Treasury is to recover the collection of taxes in the fuel sector, responsible for the largest share (20%) of the total collection of the State. But the president of the Union of Retail Trade of State Petroleum Derivatives (Sindipetro), Luiz Antônio Amin, believes that the measures announced (see table below) should also contribute to contain product adulteration.

- Today it is very easy to enter with evaded or adulterated product in Santa Catarina. The promised actions should inhibit the two infractions - highlights the businessman Amin.

For the president of the Union of Fuel Resellers of the Littoral of Santa Catarina, Algenor Costa, the most serious situation is in Itajaí, where around 50 service stations operate. He says that the problems have worsened in the last three years and the wide margin of variation in prices at the service stations, which today ranges from R $ 2,08 to R $ 2,59 per liter in the case of gasoline, reinforces the suspicions of tax evasion. taxes and adulteration of fuels.

- This government project needs to be implemented on an emergency basis, otherwise the market will lose most of the honest dealers and make room for bad traders - complains Costa.

For the president of the Union of Retail Fuel Resellers of São José and Region, Paulo Daniel Dams, these types of fraud generate unfair competition in the sector, harming regular companies. It demands greater awareness from consumers.