CAA steps up raids on seasonal products

by Carol Aloysius

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has stepped up raids on consumer products which are in big demand during the festive season. “We have increased the number of raids to 3,000 during the festive season and have begun deploying our inspectors at retail outlets including supermarkets across the country.”

They will carry out inspections on all consumer products to check their expiry dates, those sold without labels or have labels that don’t carry details regarding the manufacturer’s address or telephone numbers. Products that don’t give details with regard to the ingredients used and their nutrient value, will also be removed from shop shelves,” Deputy Director Regional CAA Asela Bandara, told the Sunday Observer.

All gift items, decorations, fireworks and Christmas lights which are popular during this season would also come under strict supervision, he said.

Special attention will also be focussed on food items such as cake ingredients and sweetmeats which are in big demand this month.

“At this time of the year, most traders try to get rid of their old stocks by selling them at cheaper rates in the wholesale market to retail outlets.

“If we come across such items they will be removed from the shop shelves and the culprits will be taken to court”, he said.

He said that most sub quality items were found in warehouses in the Pettah and Kotahena. Recent raids had uncovered old stocks of Ponni Samba and Kunissa which were to be sent to various retail outlets in the city and beyond. Large stocks of adulterated coconut oil sold under the label ‘Pure Coconut Oil’ were also seized. Of the eight samples received, seven were contaminated”. Two-thousand cases had been filed against errant traders in November alone.

“These raids will continue even during the early part of the New Y ear as the demand for consumer products is usually much higher at this time of the year”, he said. He called upon the public to inform the CAA or nearest police station promptly if they come across any inferior product.