By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
9 December 2024- The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued 14 compliance notices to suppliers’ non-compliant goods. Twelve of these suppliers are based in the Western Cape, and one each in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.
The NCC spokesperson, Phetho Ntaba said these suppliers have mainly contravened Section 24 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Ntaba said with respect to the Western Cape, the NCC conducted market monitoring inspections in the City of Cape Town, where 40 suppliers were inspected.
“Of these inspected suppliers, 12 have been issued with compliance notices, and 23 are being further investigated. In these inspections, the NCC’s found inconsistencies with labelling requirements, where suppliers did not properly label the goods or affix ingredients on the packaging.
“Failure to label goods in accordance with the CPA contravenes Section 24 read with Regulation 6. Section 24 of the CPA provides that a “trade description must be applied to the goods or any covering, label or in or on reel, or which goods are packaged or attached to the goods,” she said.
Ntaba further said trade description must include the country of origin and any other prescribed information. She added that in addition to these matters, the NCC is finalising investigations from inspections conducted in Limpopo, Gauteng, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Meanwhile, the NCC’s acting Commissioner, Hardin Ratshisusu said: “From the concluded investigations, the NCC found that consumers continue to be exposed to unsafe foodstuffs and most suppliers do not comply with the provisions of the CPA.
“The NCC continues to prioritise cases of expired and unsafe foodstuffs.”
The Guardian 