Non-English labelled goods banned

Caption:  Acting CEO for ICCC Elastus Geroro

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, June 1, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE ICCC (Independent Consumer and Competition Commission) has imposed a 12 month ban on the selling of food stuff that have not been labelled in English as of last week.

Acting CEO of ICCC, Elastus Geroro, made the announcement last week that the commission would come down hard on those that disregarded the ban- adding that the safety of citizen was at stake when it came to non-English labelled good.

“Under the Food and Sanitation Act, all food stuffs must have English labels, something many shops in the country have not heeded to,” the acting CEO said.

“The 12 month ban is an interim one and notices have been issued to traders.”

“ICCC inspectors will go around on inspection exercises around the country and those that do not abide by the ban will be prosecuted.”

He said that notices have been also given to major wholesalers and importers as well as they sell directly to the informal sector which is harder to regulate and police the ban.

Penalties for those establishments that do adhere to the prohibition of non-English labelled goods will incur a fine of K100,000 or a prison sentence of two years.

Geroro, however, added that duel labelled good that had the English language were permitted as long as the ingredients, manufacturer, contact address, minimum net weight, and country of origin were 

stipulated for consumers.

He added health risks experienced over the years around the world as a result of product content scams were the major concerns to the ban’s enforcement.

The public is encouraged to report any establishments who continue to sell product with no such labels on ICCC’s toll free numbers 1803333 or Consumer Compliance on 3252144.