Ain patrols Lae streets, issues warning to shops

Independent Consumer and Competition Commission chief executive officer Paulus Ain was on patrol in the industrial city of Lae yesterday.
He removed several illegally-imported items and non-English language products from shop shelves.
Ain even found a Lae-based manufacturer illegally producing soft drinks and other items.
He issued a directive to the company to shut down immediately.
“I am aware of several other manufacturers and shops doing such illegal activities and I warn them to shut down” Ain said.
He said city and town authorities needed to wake up and conduct monthly or quarterly inspections to ensure products selling on the shelves in various shops were compliant with Government regulations.
“If they (shops) aspire to do business in PNG, then respect and comply with laws of our country,” Ain said
“As such, city authorities must understand how these companies obtained business licenses to operate in selling illegal items.
“Also verify the legality of street vending: identify and impose penalties for shop owners encouraging street trade.
“That never means they can ply their illegal products cheaply on streets and shops.
Ain said some health and police officers in city authorities were compromising their responsibilities with Asian shop owners, thereby betraying their own families and defying Government regulations.
He encouraged customers to contact ICCC free toll 1803333 and report any such cases.
The ICCC has a wide range of specific powers in relation to consumer product safety.
It is obliged under Division 4 of the ICCC Act 2002 to take immediate action when it became aware of a product that could affect health or safety of consumers.