CFTC warns against Chambo misrepresentation

Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has warned traders against misrepresenting some fish as the country’s renowned Chambo, saying the information that has been published in the media recently is grossly misleading and deceptive.

CFTC executive director Charlotte Malonda, in a statement on Wednesday, said they noted that there are some enterprises that are engaged in the promotion, marketing and selling of Kariba Bream fish as mega Chambo or Chambo from the Zambezi.

“It has come to the attention of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) that there are some enterprises that are engaged in the promotion, marketing and selling of Karibu Bream fish as Mega Chambo / tilapia Chambo or Chambo from the Zambezi.

This information has been published through different media including newspaper advertisements,” said Malonda.

She said in pursuit of its mandate of regulating, monitoring, controlling and preventing acts or behaviours which are likely to adversely affect competition and consumer welfare in Malawi, the Commission has reviewed the adverts in newspapers, on the fridges at the point of sale, and at the wholesale and retail packaging of the product.

The Commission has further said it has also reviewed the actual fish, and engaged Fisheries experts for physical examination of the product.

“Our findings have shown that the said Kariba Bream fish is actually (Oreochromis niloticus) a Tilapia found in other parts of the world, and NOT the Chambo (Oreochromis karongae). The picture insert below is the true Chambo,” she said.

CFTC reminded consumers that Chambo is a specific name to this fish species and not any other fish in the world.

“It must be mentioned that Chambo is geographically found in Lake Malawi and nowhere else. As such, Chambo from Lake Malawi enjoys a certain reputation due to its geographical origin. It is therefore grossly misleading and deceptive for any product which is not Chambo to be sold as such. Such misrepresentations deprive consumers of important information needed to make an informed buying decision,” explained Malonda.

CFTC said in view of this, the Commission asked the business community that the Competition and Fair Trading Act, under Section 43(1)(k) enterprises are prohibited from engaging in misleading or deceptive advertisement.

“Further, the law prescribes fines for businesses that deceive consumers. It does not matter whether a false or misleading statement was intentional or not. Any statement representing products or services should be true, accurate and able to be substantiated,” CFTC statement reads in part.

The Commission is appealing to all enterprises that published misleading adverts on the Kariba Bream fish to review them and publish revised adverts within 7 days.

This will ensure that the product is marketed and sold under its real name. Failure to publish revised adverts will force the Commission to take further action on those found to continue engaging in the misrepresentation, in line with the law,” Malonda warned.