Errant rice mill traders face prosecution- CAA

by Carol Aloysius

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has warned rice traders that their stocks would be confiscated if they did not declare correct information regarding their stocks to the CAA.

The CAA has told rice mill owners, importers and stock collectors of paddy or rice to promptly inform the Authority of their present stocks.

"We have published a notice along with a form for them to fill in all newspapers. Information of stocks should reach us by September 10 and the perfected forms by September 15", Director General Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade J.M.U. Douglas told the Sunday Observer. This would be an ongoing practice in future and traders should provide information about their stocks in the same manner every two weeks.

He said that keeping stocks in one's possession without providing information would be tantamount to a declaration of non possession of such stocks. "However, any stock that is hoarded by a vendor at his place of business or elsewhere in excess of stocks needed for general business requirements will be confiscated, under Section 57 of the Consumer Affairs Act No 9 of 2003".