Violations detected as new consumer prices take effect

Tuesday, 24 February 2015 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New MRPs now in force Already 800 detections by CAA ‘Strict action from now’: Bathiudeen MRP for three types of cement Legal action over 300 incidents The number of consumer violations by Lankan traders being uncovered by Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority continues to rise, while the relief on essential items and cement afforded by the recent Interim Budget is now in effect. “I commend you and your staff for the detection of 800 price violation incidents. We are implementing President Maithripala Sirisena’s promise to provide relief to consumers as announced in the budget by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake,” stressed Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. He was speaking to Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Rumy Marzook last week at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce during discussions with his top officials on the progress of consumer price reductions. “Since the 13 items and prices are now gazetted and are effective from today, from now onwards the CAA should take strict action against sellers who do not comply,” stated Minister Bathiudeen. CAA Chairman Marzook informed Minister Bathiudeen that gazette notifications on the reduction of consumer prices in the recent Interim Budget have been published. Eight hundred Maximum Retail Price (MRP) violation incidents were detected by his teams island-wide since the budget announcement was made. He also revealed that legal action would be instituted right away on 300 of them. He pledged that strict and immediate action would be taken by the CAA on MRP violators from now on. Accordingly, the CAA in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1902/55 dated 20 February, acting under the powers vested in it by Section 20 (5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003, ordered that “no manufacturer, importer, packer, distributor or trade shall sell the following items above the Maximum Retail Prices specified.” In that, the MRP of items are bread (Rs. 54 for 450 grams), white sugar (unpacked) MRP at 90 per kg, milk powder 400 grams at Rs. 325, (and 1 kg at Rs. 810), Sustagen 400 grams tin MRP Rs. 1500, unpacked wheat flour Rs. 90 per kg, green grams Rs. 280 per kg, sprats Rs. 525 per kg, canned fish Rs. 260 per 425 grams, coriander in crust form Rs. 348 per kg, black grams (undu) Rs. 285 per kg, Maldive fish Rs. 1740 per kg, turmeric not crust Rs. 265 per kg and chillies (crust) 350 per kg. The CAA, also in another Gazette Extraordinary No. 1902/47 dated 20 February, acting under the powers vested in it by Section 20 (5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003, ordered that “no manufacturer, importer, packer, distributor, or trade shall sell a 50 kg bag of cement bearing generic or brand names of ‘Ordinary Portland’, ‘Portland limestone’ and ‘masonry cement’ above the Maximum Retail Price of Rs. 840 for a 50 kg bag.