Govt, MBS optimistic on new weighing scale law
Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) says it has completed reviewing subsidiary laws and regulations barring the operation and existence of illegal weighing scales that are not assized.
In an interview, MBS director general Davlin Chokazinga said the law deals with cases involving the use of illegal weighing scales.
“The process of reviewing the law and regulations regarding weighing scales has just been completed. We are simply waiting for the law to be gazetted,” he said.
Chokazinga highlighted unfair trade as one of the aftermaths of using unassized weighing scales.
“In a situation where there is a transaction between a buyer and seller coupled with the presence of such a scale, it is expected that either a buyer or a seller loses; hence, such transactions are earning losses for the nation,” he said.
On steps MBS has put in place to stop the use of unassized scales, Chokazinga said they inspect markets and impound such scales from traders.
“The problem is that after the confiscation, traders go back to buy such weighing scales because there is no proper law prohibiting them not to do so,” he said.
Chokazinga said they are hopeful that the new law will help in curbing the malpractice.
“Once the new becomes operational, traders will conduct their businesses according to the required standards and prosecution of culprits will deter other would-be offenders,” he said.
On his part, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism spokesperson Wiskes Nkombezi said unassized weighing scales are affecting consumers in the country.
“It is a pity that such scales are also affecting poor farmers in remote areas. A farmer may spend his hard-earned money in buying agricultural produce, and if they buy the seeds using unassized scale, they lose out,” he said.
Nkombezi said the new law will protect farmers from being duped by unscrupulous traders.
“Most of these scales are being used by unscrupulous traders, and as a ministry, we are optimistic that the new law will curb the malpractices,” he said.
