MBS says traders defrauding consumers

An investigation by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) has shown that more traders are defrauding consumers by offering expired or counterfeit goods on the market.

This comes against a background of complaints from consumers about some shops stocking expired products.

In an interview, MBS director general Davlin Chokazinga said the tendency is a cause of worry to the standards body.

He said MBS has been cautioning one retailer (name withheld) against selling expired products more than once.

“We have been to some big shops more than once and issued them warnings to desist from the misconduct.

“Their response is that the expired product just skipped their eyes,” said Chokazinga.

He said while MBS Act calls for penalties if found on the wrong side of the law, this time around the retailers might be taken to court.

A Lilongwe-based lady last week complained of buying Lactogen baby formula from one of the shops in the city which had expired on October 30.

The retailer later exchanged the milk when the lady returned the expired product.

Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito said in an interview the retailers have not been punished enough by the law; hence, their continued breaking of the law.

“There is need for spot penalties when these traders are caught offering for sale expired products,” he said.

Kapito said the consumer rights body receives these complaints on daily basis, but the laws to deter the offenders are not strong enough.