Today was supposed to be the day that the new scale-based butane regulations went into place - that's what a press release from the Bureau of Standards confirmed earlier this week. But it seems "d-day" was not the day after all. We cruised butane depots and followed butane trucks in the City today and at least for the two major importers, saw no scales in the trucks or at the plant.
Plus TV in Belmopan confirmed that they found no scales at butane dealers there either. So is the law being widely ignored? Well, it's complicated…
In response to our questions about the implementation and enforcement of the new law, The Bureau OF Standards today told us, quote:
"Based on (the bureau's) assessment of the market place and the information we have received from the scale importers, the scales that are currently available for sale do not meet the specification mandated by the Statutory Instrument. The Bureau has also verified that the scales being used by LP in Spanish Lookout are not in compliance with the SI. In light of this, majority of the scales will have to be imported and one of the major importers of scales has advised that a shipment of scales are expected to arrive next week. The LPG suppliers have been making an effort to purchase the scales and have submitted applications with the specification of the scales that they would like to purchase."
And there's one more thing, the effective date for the statutory instrument has been moved. The Bureau of standards has given the LPG suppliers a grace period of 2 days and the new effective date is Tuesday March 22nd, 2011 by which time they are expected to comply with Statutory instrument - so we'll follow up again next week.
