"Is it genuine?" has a checklist, not a guess. Here's exactly what EPRA and KEBS marks mean and every physical check on the cylinder itself.
The Regulatory Marks
- EPRA license — the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority licenses who can legally sell and refill LPG. Buying from a licensed dealer is your first protection.
- KEBS diamond mark — Kenya Bureau of Standards certification printed/engraved on the cylinder. Its presence means the cylinder met the standard.
- Brand authorization — the cylinder belongs to a brand that owns the filling rights — your cylinder should match a real brand, not generic paint.
The Physical Cylinder Checklist
- Collar engraving — brand name stamped INTO the metal (not printed).
- Foot-ring engraving — same brand name on the base ring.
- Date stamp — manufacturing year on the collar; cylinders are certified ~8–10 years before requalification.
- Factory valve seal — intact, brand-matched, unbroken.
- Brand colour — consistent with the official brand colour (see brand colours guide).
- KEBS diamond mark present.
- Tare weight stamped — needed for the weight check.
Quick Reference: What Each Mark Tells You
| Mark | Where | Proves |
|---|---|---|
| Brand engraving | Collar + foot ring | Owns the cylinder |
| Valve seal | Valve | Factory-filled, unopened |
| KEBS mark | Body | Standard compliance |
| Date stamp | Collar | Within certification life |
| Tare weight | Collar/foot | Lets you verify fill weight |
When a Cylinder Fails the Checklist
- Missing seal → don't buy, don't accept.
- Expired date stamp → refuse the exchange; ask for a certified cylinder.
- No engraving, just paint → suspect a repaint covering another brand.
- Everything looks off? Walk away — there are always other sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EPRA's role in gas safety?
EPRA licenses LPG importers, filling plants, transporters and retailers — the legal chain that keeps your gas genuine.
Do all brands use the same seal?
No — each brand has its own seal design. That's the point: it ties the cylinder to the actual brand that filled it.
Where's the date stamp exactly?
On the collar — a year like "2019" or "2021" stamped in the metal, sometimes with a month.
Every PataGas cylinder passes this checklist — sealed, engraved, certified. Order genuine gas →