Erring shops in Chililabombwe face sanctions

THE Chililabombwe Municipal Council (CMC) will not hesitate to prosecute chain stores and retail shops found selling expired products, Town Clerk Jovax Ngoma has warned

He said the local authority was concerned with the number of chain stores and retail shops selling expired products, hence will not hesitate to take appropriate action against shops found wanting.

Mr Ngoma said the sale of expired products was prohibited under the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) regulations as well as the Public Health Act

He advised consumers to take precaution every time they buy products because it was their responsibility to report to the local authority any chain store or retail shop found selling expired products

“As a local authority, we have observed with concern that a number of chain stores and retail shops in the district have been selling expired products.

“So following this observation, we wish to warn those shops that we will not hesitate to prosecute them because it is an offence to sell expired products. Consumers should formally lodge a complaint to be pursued on their behalf,’’ he said

Mr Ngoma said that consumers who were exposed to expired products risk their health hence business operators should not endanger the lives of people through the sale of expired products

“As a local authority, we are committed in implementing the CCPC law in collaboration with other regulators to ensure that consumers receive value for their money,’’ he said

He said the business community has an obligation of ensuring that adequate and right information was given to the consumers on the product and services they offer.

“The council will not therefore hesitate to have offenders prosecuted to set an example to would-be offenders,” he said.