The Portable Fuel Container Manufacturers Association
The PFCMA is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation whose members are manufacturers of portable fuel containers & spouts. http://www.gascans4safety.com/.
The portable fuel container manufacturing industry as we know it is fast approaching a point of no return. Our industry has been swamped by product liability lawsuits that threaten our ability to continue doing business. Blitz USA, the manufacturer of 75% of the consumer gas cans sold in the U.S. each year, recently announced that it cannot emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will cease producti
on on July 31, 2012 as a direct result of the surge in litigation. With the closing of Blitz and the rest of the industry’s inability to meet demand, the nation could face a severe shortage of the familiar red gas cans as early as this summer — coinciding with hurricane season, when many people with critical health needs rely on gas cans to fuel generators for emergency electricity. This is a major consumer safety issue too. If gas cans aren’t available, consumers will find more dangerous ways to transport fuel. We will return to a time when people stored gasoline in milk jugs or coolers, putting themselves and everyone around them at risk. Although it is too late to save Blitz, the remaining manufacturers must be safeguarded to protect an industry that is vital to public safety. The Portable Fuel Container Manufacturers Association is asking congressional leaders to support recently filed legislation that will stabilize the business environment by making voluntary product standards mandatory – and keep consumers safer by giving them reasonable options for transporting and storing fuel. Please sign the petition urging congressional leaders to support this important legislation: http://www.change.org/petitions/congressional-leadership-protect-public-safety-by-stabilizing-consumer-gas-can-industry-2
H.R. 6065 “To Make Improvements to the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act” introduced by Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), along with co-sponsors, Representative Dan Boren (D-OK) and Representative Billy Long (R-MO) will provide the needed safety mandate. To contact the bill sponsors and thank them for their leadership, visit http://www.gascans4safety.com/hr-6065
