Changes to the VLS Website

Recently the VLS website has been updated. These changes have been made to improve the service offered to VLS members, as well as well as consumers and end users of lubricants. These changes will provide;

• Clarity for the industry, consumers and end users of lubricants.

• Consistency across all cases for reasons of fairness, and to demonstrate the impartiality of VLS.

• Speed and simplicity in reducing the time it takes to categorise and upload new case details to the website.

Outline details on cases that have been received and are being investigated are being displayed for the first time. The aim of this development is to demonstrate the extent of issues and the number of cases under consideration rather than simply publish details once a case has been resolved. As the VLS process is confidential, organisations or specific products cannot be named until a case has been thoroughly investigated. These changes however will show the type of issues under consideration at an earlier stage.

More detail has also been provided on the summary pages of the Case Outcomes and Case Resolved sections of the website. Here we have broadly categorised cases as either;

Product failed to meet claims made, or

Product investigated and found to be compliant. Case Closed.

Along with new case headlines, summary phrases have been introduced alongside each case to provide more detail. These phrases fall into four main categories;

1. Corrective action
a. “Follow up in progress with Named Party”, or
b. “Named Party advises corrective actions have been taken”, or
c. “Corrective actions NOT taken &/or NOT confirmed to VLS”

2. Trading Standards:
a. “Case passed by VLS to Trading Standards Office”

3. Product Testing :
b. “Follow up testing within 6 months”
c. “Product re-tested after 6 months and failed again”, or
d. “Product re-tested after 6 months and passed”

4. Product Recall:
a. “Product recall requested by VLS”

On the VLS website you can still find out more specific case detail on the relevant summary page by clicking on the case number. Specific case details will continue to be displayed as cases are concluded.

We would welcome your thoughts on the changes made to the website. If you have any comments then please get in touch using the details in the Contact Us pages.