The National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the sector's regulator in the country, carried out 2,111 inspections at gas stations, transport companies and distributors in the last three months. The actions ended with 21 infraction notices due to signs of abusive price increases. This represents one in every 100 inspections. According to data released this Friday (12) by the ANP, from March 9th and June 3rd, notices of abusive pricing were issued against 16 fuel distributors located in São Paulo, in the Federal District, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro; and five against resales of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), known as cooking gas in Ceará and Pará. Related news: Competition from ethanol and subsidies cause the price of gasoline to fall. Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East at the end of February, which caused an increase in the price of petroleum derivatives practically throughout the world, the ANP was tasked with monitoring the prices charged at Brazilian service stations. The government's fear was that resellers would use the turbulent global scenario to increase prices abusively. The attribution of responsibility to the ANP is contained in Provisional Measure 1,340/2026. Look at the invoices In inspection actions, in person and remotely, agents collect information on prices charged, and fuel purchase invoices relating to specific periods. The agency compares the purchase costs of products with the prices actually charged in sales to understand whether there is any sign of an abusive increase. If so, establishments are notified to present additional documentation to further analyze the analysis. According to the ANP, broad defense is ensured. Increased supervision Also this Friday, the ANP board approved intensification of inspection actions focused on combating price abuse in the fuel market. In the period from July to September, the regulatory agency plans to carry out 3,000 inspections, which represents 40% more than in the previous quarter. The approved plan provides for overt, educational and coercive actions to curb “opportunistic practices” in the market. Subsidies The expansion of the ANP's inspection activity is part of a government package to prevent a price shock for derivatives in the country. Among other measures, the government adopted a subsidy policy, a type of reimbursement so that producers and importers of derivatives such as diesel, gasoline and natural gas do not pass on increased costs to the end consumer. In the case of gasoline, for example, the subsidy is currently R$0.44 per liter. For diesel, R$ 1.12. The measures are not permanent, have fixed deadlines and are reevaluated as the conflict in the Middle East evolves.