Over 400 consumer protection cases sent to prosecution in 2018

Energy Monday 11/February/2019 21:24 PM
By: Times News Service
Over 400 consumer protection cases sent to prosecution in 2018

Muscat: In order to restore consumer rights, more than 400 cases were referred to the public prosecution in Muscat last year, the Public Authority of Consumer Protection (PACP) revealed.
According to PACP’s Directorate General of Consumer Services and Market Control at PACP, “In 2018, 448 cases were referred to the public prosecution, represented by the transfer of 411 cases through the complaints department, 26 cases through the Department of Market Regulation and Control, and 11 cases through the Anti-Commercial Fraud Department.”
A PACP official said, “Referring cases to the public prosecution is aimed at restoring consumer rights in the service sectors supervised by the Authority, including the workshop of aluminium, blacksmithing and carpentry, restaurants, cafes, and car repair workshops, due to the existence of goods or products violating the specifications and standards or those that are expired and can affect consumer health and safety.”
In another case, PACP seized more than 300 expired foodstuffs from shops in the wilayat of Al Rusta. The Authority said in a statement online: “The Department of Consumer Protection in Rustaq was able to control the sale of 314 items of expired foodstuffs in Rustaq, Awabi, and the Al Mussanah area, as part of the regular follow-up inspection campaign by the Authority in the markets and commercial centres in the wilayat.”
“Accordingly, the seized goods and procedures followed in this regard have been withdrawn,” the Authority added.
The PACP called on consumers to verify the data and validity of goods before purchasing them, and to report violations, if any.