The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) conducted 112 surprise inspections at shops and restaurants near major bus terminals, transport hubs and long-distance bus stands across the country on Monday (20), targeting businesses suspected of violating consumer protection laws.
During the inspections, CAA officers uncovered several offences, including the sale of beverages, snacks and packaged food above the maximum retail price (MRP), failure to display prices of bakery products and other food items, and the absence of mandatory product information such as manufacturing and expiry dates, batch numbers and manufacturer details.
Inspectors also discovered expired food products being displayed for sale at several outlets.
According to the CAA, the operation was launched to protect commuters and passengers from unfair trading practices at transport centres, where consumers are particularly vulnerable to overpricing and the sale of substandard goods.
The Authority said legal action will be instituted against the offending businesses in the relevant Magistrate’s Courts under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act.
The CAA also warned that strict enforcement measures will continue against traders found overcharging consumers or selling unsafe and substandard food products, adding that similar islandwide inspections will be carried out on a regular basis.
