Violation of Consumer Protection Act 2006: Nine food companies and several bakeries issued notices
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LAHORE: Several local and international food- producing companies in Lahore are in violation of the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2006, said City District Government Lahore (CDGL) officials on Thursday. They said nine companies and several bakeries had been issued legal notices. They said the companies were selling edibles without mentioning their manufacturing and expiry dates. They said on the directions of the district coordination officer (DCO), samples of food items were collected and were found without manufacturing and expiry dates. They said the DCO had called a meeting of CDGL officials, which decided to take action against the violators. They said the DCO had directed district officer (food) to file cases of defective consumer products in the District Consumer Court. They said the DCO had issued notices to the manufacturers against the violation of Section 11 and Section 28 of the Consumer Protection Act 2006. The notices issued read: “It has been reported that your ice cream/milk/bread in various categories, being sold in the jurisdiction of the CDGL, contains no manufacturing/expiry date. This is in violation of Section 11 of the Punjab Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act, 2006. After examining the packets, the District Consumer Protection Council Lahore has recommended that action may be taken against you for violating Section 11 of the Act.” The last paragraph of the notice states, “You are hereby advised to appear before the DCO to explain the concurrent reasons as to why the action may not be taken against you under the provisions of the Act for alleged violation. In case you do not avail the opportunity of hearing on the scheduled date and time, it shall be presumed that you accepted the guilt and action will be taken against you under the provisions of the Act.” Like many other consumers Muhammad Imran who bought some International brand ice cream packets for his children said, “It’s really amazing that the brands of such fame are not displaying the manufacturing and expiry date of the item. Printing this date is essential to ensure the freshness and life of the item and it is our basic right to know about it.” He also said that companies were legally bound to respect the consumers’ rights, granted to them under the law and if they were violating it, legal action should be taken against them. District Officer Enterprises and Industries Promotion Qazi Anwar Zahoor confirmed that notices had been issued to companies. |