Bakery owners to feel the weight of violating gazette as CAA takes action
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is to file action against bakery owners who violate the regulations of the extraordinary gazette issued on February 1, making the display of the weight of a loaf of bread mandatory.
According to the gazette, a loaf of bread should ideally weigh 450g with a permissible deficiency of 13.5g, while half a loaf should weigh 225g with a 9g permissible deficiency.
CAA's Director of Raids and Special Investigation, Sanjaya Irasinghe, told the Sunday Times that the CAA is to take action against 196 bakery owners as of February 9 for violating regulations by selling underweight loaves of bread and failing to display prices.
“Yesterday (February 9) marked one week since the raids began." He said 196 individuals violated the regulation, and action will be taken against them next week. Mr. Irasinghe said they will be fined for failing to display the weight and price and for not possessing an authorised scale. “The owner should possess a licence issued by the Department of Measurement Units, Standards, and Services,” he said.
Mr. Irasinghe said that a small-scale bakery owner will be charged between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 10,000, while a large-scale manufacturer will be charged between Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 100,000.
“We do not oppose the gazette as the previous ordinance was renewed," President of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association, N.K. Jayawardene, said. However, there is a shortcoming in the gazette that may need to be amended, as the type of bread is not mentioned clearly, for example, multi-grain, brown bread, etc.” he said
“With the current situation in the country and the hardships faced by bakery owners to continue, some bakers make underweight bread and sell it for a lesser price in rural areas, which is illegal," he added.
Mr. Irasinghe said that "the Attorney General had said not to include other types of bread," and therefore, the regulation is only applicable to white bread.