Chimbu govt to appoint two ICCC agents

THE Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) will have officers in the Chimbu provincial administration monitoring consumer and competition activities, says commissioner and chief executive officer Paulus Ain.
The provincial administration will appoint two business development officers to act as ICCC agents.
“Resource constraints have the potential to restrict efforts of both organisations in maintaining an effective system of surveillance on prices and service standards of declared consumer goods,” he said.
“It also hinders work on ensuring compliance of pricing policies and the minimum standard requirements for the provision of goods and services are maintained.”
Ain said the memorandum they signed was to facilitate co-operation between the commission and the provincial administration in achieving the objectives of the ICCC.
The ICCC “agents” are empowered to investigate traders and might issue verbal or written notices or instigate legal proceedings against business houses on behalf of the ICCC.
They will also:

• MONITOR and enforce public vehicles and fares;
•  declared goods;
•  ENFORCE retail prices for fuel products;
•  MONITOR and enforce product safety;
• MONITOR and the performances of regulated service providers;
•  MONITOR competition matters;
•  ATTEND to consumer complaints/queries;
• ESTABLISH joint enforcement arrangements with provincial-based stakeholders;
• ENFORCE consumer issues that fall outside the ICCC’s mandate;
• REPORT on the use of trade measurement (TM) equipment by businesses; and,
• COLLECT TM inspection fees.

Ain said the ICCC would provide induction workshops and training for the officers on their duties and support them in discharging their responsibilities.