NCC launches crackdown on unsafe, expired goods
The National Consumer Commission has launched a nationwide crackdown on unsafe and expired goods.
This follows the discovery of widespread non-compliance by some shops, including the sale of expired goods at discount prices.
NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba says the campaign kicked off in the Capricorn District Municipality in Limpopo over the weekend.
Various retailers in Seshego, Mankweng, Turfloop, Lebowakgomo and Polokwane were inspected.
Ntaba says it found widespread non-compliance with goods that have passed their sell-by, use-by or best-before dates.
"The non-compliant goods were duly removed from the shelves and confiscated. Non-compliant goods include baby food, sweets, cool drinks, noodles, snacks, tinned foodstuff, juices, and other consumables.
"These items had the potential of causing harm and compromising the health of consumers. There is an equally reprehensible practice that the inspections uncovered, which is the retention of the goods past date markings and continuing to sell them to consumers at discount prices.
"The NCC maintains that these suppliers are self-serving and are not driven by consumer interest.”
All the confiscated items will be destroyed.
"The other common practice discovered is suppliers that do not display the prices of goods, making it difficult for consumers to know the price beforehand to exercise their right to choose,” said Ntaba.
"The team has also discovered that suppliers do not issue sales records/receipts or that their sales records/receipts are not consistent with the provisions of the Consumer Protecting Act.”
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