CFTC resolves unfair trading cases

The Commissioners of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) have resolved cases relating to unfair trading practices, anti-competitive business conducts and mergers and acquisitions.

In a statement signed by CFTC executive director Wezi Malonda, the commission said on Wednesday it considered and ruled over a total of five cases of which 19 were on unfair trading practices while the rest were on anti-competitive trade practices.

Reads the statement in part: “The Commission imposed a fine of K5 million to Farmers World Limited for supplying products which did not comply with prescribed labeling standards following investigations which the commission conducted and established that the company was supplying 20 kilogrammes (kg) of Sea Fresh packs whose expiry dates were labelled on separate tags clipped or stapled onto the packs.”

Similarly, the commission ordered Sweet Smelling Food Trading Ltd to pay a fine of K5 million for failing to timely recall a harmful product from the market on grounds that in September 2016, the company supplied Joy Crisps which were not fit for human consumption.

CFTC has also ordered Motor Care Limited to pay a fine of K2.5 million for engaging in misleading advertising on the price of motor vehicle tyres and batteries following investigations which the commission conducted after receiving three consumer complaints against the adverts that the company published in the local newspapers.

 National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) was ordered to refund the sum of K902 000 with interest at prevailing commercial rates to Mbwatalika Seed Multiplication Club for supplying defective groundnuts seed.

Speaking previously to Business News, consumer rights activist John Kapito said putting proper monitoring and inspection systems in place is key to ensuring that everyone is accountable for their actions on the market.