Case bulletin
VLS 010222 – Ravenol HLS 5W-30 On 23rd October 2024 the case was accepted by VLS.
The complaint concerned the product claim to exceed or meet Stellantis FPW9.55535/03 where it was alleged that there is currently no market general technology available against this claim.
The Lubricant Marketer vigorously defended the claim and the matter was referred by the UK distributor to the European parent and their legal counsel.
Until the matter could be finalised the UK Lubricant Marketer agreed to temporarily withdraw the claim from the product packaging and website description.
VLS believes that the withdrawal of the claim brings the product into compliance and the case will be subject to a six-month review in line with VLS’s stated policy.
On 23rd June 2025 VLS undertook a six-month review of the above investigation in line with its stated process.
update Miltos Bantis, GEIR President
In her 10 September 2025 State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the critical need to fast-track the EU’s circular economy transformation. She highlighted that this transformation is central to Europe’s “independence moment,” reducing energy dependency through clean, resilient sources and limiting strategic dependencies via circular production. For GEIR, this underscores re-refining’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable resource management, converting waste oils into high-quality base oils to propel EU sustainability goals.
The Circular Economy Act (CEA) public consultation, initiated on 1 August 2025 and running until 6 November 2025, offers a pivotal opportunity to drive the EU’s circular economy agenda. Aimed at doubling the EU’s circularity rate from 11.8% by 2030, the Commission is tackling pressing issues—raw material shortages, operational inefficiencies, and regulatory
As part of this review, it reviewed the Ravenol UK website and the Technical Data Sheet for the product and found that the claim against Stellantis FPW 9.55535/03 had continued to be withdrawn, therefore the product was in continued compliance at the six-month stage and the case and investigation can be closed.
VLS also informed the German parent company about the case as the claim is still being made on the
ravenol.de website which is outside the remit of VLS.
ravenol.de/en/product/motorenoel/ pkw-motorenoel/ravenol-hls-sae-5w-30
David Wright, Company Secretary of VLS said “We want to ensure we have the highest standards in Europe for lubricant manufacture, blending and marketing, and we want a ‘level playing field’ for all participants, so that we protect the interests of the consumer and other end users.
In the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (UK) Ltd, we have set our course for stronger industry self-regulation by working positively towards more open and transparent competition that benefits all lubricant organisations.”
ukla-vls.org.uk
bottlenecks. GEIR, representing Europe’s re-refining sector, views this as a critical juncture. By transforming hazardous waste oils into valuable resources, re-refining aligns seamlessly with the waste hierarchy and the EU’s climate ambitions. For GEIR, the CEA’s objectives are vital, as they enhance re-refining’s capacity to address resource scarcity and support a clean economy, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of sustainable industrial growth.
The CEA’s potential to refine regulatory frameworks and boost demand for recycled materials promises significant impact. GEIR is proactively engaged, providing strategic input in the consultation to advocate for policies that enhance resource efficiency and emissions reductions. Ultimately, our goal is aims to secure a regulatory environment that maximises resource circularity, and positions Europe as a global leader in sustainable resource management.
geir-rerefining.org
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.189 OCTOBER 2025
65
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