ICCC to better regulate sale of fake, sub-standard products

By NATHAN WOTI
THE Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) will be working with private sector companies to ensure fake products are banned from shops, an official says.
ICCC consumer protection executive manager Jaqueline Wafi said the Consumer Act (2002) would be in full effect from this year to protect the rights of consumers especially in relation to buying sub-standard products.
“We (ICCC) have not fully utilised the Consumer Act for a long time, however, this will change soon,” she said.
“From this year, we will work with private sector companies and customers that there must be a proper screening process involved in the importation of products.”
Wafi said according to an ICCC survey, the majority of consumers bought sub-standard products because they were cheap but this trend was also caused by a lack of awareness and consumer knowledge on buying quality and standard products as opposed to sub-standard and fake products.
“There is a huge need for awareness to educate consumers on why they need to buy standard products,” she said.
“A lack of knowledge about understanding quality products causes consumers to buy easy and cheap products, which in many instances, have shorter life spans.
“This must be stopped.
“ICCC will play its part to work in collaboration with private sector companies which have high standards of consumer services and are updated with the regulations within the guidelines of the Consumer Act.”
She said with the theme for this year’s World Consumer Rights Day, “empowering consumers through clean energy transition”, it has brought to light the need for consumers to understand the quality of energy products they are buying.
Wafi said ICCC had noted the solar energy suppliers’ concerns and would speak to the Government for legislations that would allow the use of energy sources.