In two days, Inmetro and ANP have already detected 362 irregularities at gas stations in eight states and the Federal District.

Operation Tô de Olho

Operation Tô de Olho – Abastecimento Seguro (I’m Watching – Safe Supply), coordinated by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC), ended its second day of action on Wednesday (February 4) with 148 irregularities detected after inspecting 51 gas stations in the Federal District and eight states. The data comes from the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) and the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

During the two days of the operation to combat fraud in fuel quality and quantity, which began on Tuesday (February 3), 362 irregularities were detected after inspecting 97 gas stations.

On Wednesday, Inmetro inspected 804 fuel nozzles at 44 gas stations to verify that the quantity delivered to consumers corresponded to the volume indicated on the pump panel, as well as the condition of the equipment’s safety components. After analysis, 129 nozzles were rejected, resulting in 15 interdictions and six fines.

Over the two days of action, Inmetro inspected 1,713 fuel nozzles at 97 gas stations. The analyses failed 324 nozzles, which led to 61 closures, 40 fines, and 16 seizures.

On Wednesday, the ANP conducted 255 fuel quality tests at 51 stations, issued 19 notices of violation for non-compliance with legal parameters, and shut down one fuel nozzle. In total, the ANP conducted 498 quality tests at 94 inspected stations. The agency has already issued 38 fines and carried out two precautionary bans and one seizure.

Operation Tô de Olho is simultaneously covering the Federal District, Amazonas, Bahia, Goiás, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande do Sul and seeks to increase the effectiveness of market surveillance through the integrated action of regulatory, inspection, and consumer protection agencies.

Second day (02/04)

Integrated Operation

The action has the support of the civil police and the delegated agencies of the Brazilian Network of Legal Metrology and Quality of Inmetro (RBMLQ-I) and takes place simultaneously in the Federal District and in eight states in the five regions of the country.

The teams are working in pre-selected cities, with the goal of inspecting around 180 gas stations across the country. The actions include verifying the volume actually delivered to the consumer, the condition of the measuring pumps, the existence of electronic manipulation, and the regularity of maintenance performed, as well as the quality of the fuels.

Establishments fined by the ANP are subject to fines ranging from R$5,000 to R$5 million, in addition to penalties of suspension and revocation of their authorization. Sanctions are applied only after an administrative process, during which the economic agent has the right to a full defense and to be heard, as defined by law.

In the case of fines imposed by Inmetro, gas stations caught with irregularities may receive fines ranging from R$ 100 to R$ 1.5 million. In cases of fraud, the pumps must be replaced, according to Inmetro Ordinance No. 170/2025.

In addition to fines, measures such as fines, interdictions, and seizure of equipment may be applied.

The operation is part of the 2025-2026 Action Plan of the National Quality Infrastructure Strategy (ENIQ), launched by the National Council for Metrology, Standardization, and Industrial Quality (Conmetro), which is chaired by the Minister of MDIC, Geraldo Alckmin, and has the collaboration of the productive sector and society.

Consumer guidelines

● Check that the pump has the Inmetro seal

● Check that the displays are in good condition, with no cracks, opacity, or reading errors

● Make sure the lighting allows you to clearly see the volume and price to be paid, even at night

● Check that the electronic indicators are working correctly, with no digits missing or damaged

● Check that hoses and connections are intact, with no leaks or deformations

● Confirm that the station has the standard 20-liter measurement, verified by Inmetro

These guidelines help identify possible irregularities and ensure compliance with technical standards. Responsibility for measurement compliance lies with the retail station and the manufacturer of the measuring pump.

In case of suspected irregularities, consumers can contact:

– the Inmetro Ombudsman via the website gov.br/inmetro or by phone at 0800 285 1818, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; or

– the ANP by calling 0800 970 0267 (toll-free) or FalaBR, the integrated ombudsman and information access platform of the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU).