Inspectors average 70 visits daily to retail outlets

Inspectors from the Consumer and Competition Division (CCD) of the Ministry of Finance carried out an average of 70 visits every day to retail outlets during the first six months of the year.

A spokesman said a total of 12,622 price monitoring visits were carried out. Their main purpose was to ensure that pricing indication regulations are observed.

Over 98 percent of outlets were found to be compliant. In addition, over 1,000 visits were made at vegetable hawkers and open air markets.

The CCD officials warn non-compliant shopkeepers of their legal obligations and only resort to action if non-compliance continues. Three cases are currently pending before the courts.

The spokesman said the aim of the division was to ensure there was fair competition in business and consumer rights were observed. He said that recent complaints by importers that parallel traders may not be observing labelling regulations on detergents were being followed-up.