Labels in Italian on gas cylinders being replaced

New gas distributor Liquigas Malta is having to change the safety labels on its cylinders after the authorities noticed they were printed in Italian.

Not only were the labels in Italian, but the emergency number listed on them was also an Italian number.

According to the Malta Resources Authority, regulations state that gas cylinders have to carry a hazard warning with local telephone numbers.

Liquigas, a joint venture between Multigas Ltd and Liquigas SpA of Italy, took responsibility for the local sales and distribution of LPG last year.

However, when it started distributing gas cylinders in December, the company was not in possession of labels in Maltese and English, and instead attached Italian ones to 13,000 cylinders, Liquigas said.

"When the MRA told us we had to stick labels, we needed time to prepare and print them," the company said when contacted.

But while Liquigas said the MRA was informed it was going to attach labels in Italian, the authority insisted it was not, and was told by another authority.

"MRA took immediate action and started discussions with Liquigas," the MRA spokesman said, adding that the old Enemalta cylinders carried contents information and a hazard warning label with local telephone numbers.

Contacted again, Liquigas reiterated that the MRA knew it was going to attach labels in Italian, adding that around one million labels in English and Maltese had now been printed and would start being attached to the cylinders.