CCAA imposes heavy fines on businesses that sell expired and adulterated products

About 2,207 enterprises in 75 towns in 17 Dzongkhags were inspected.

Sherab Lhamo

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA) has fined a wholesale business N1,027,200 for adulterating high-quality rice with inferior products.

This was discovered during an inspection by the China Food and Drug Administration in collaboration with the Bhutan Food and Drug Administration, the Bhutan Bureau of Standards and the District Office of Industry, Commerce and Employment.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the team inspected 2,207 businesses in 75 different towns in 17 Tsongkhapas.

The CCAA also fined 176 grocery stores and restaurants for storing and selling expired food, with the total fine reaching Ngultrum 205,756.

The Housing and Urban Development Department received a total of 129 complaints, of which 114 were individual complaints, with Thimphu receiving the highest number of 89 complaints.

CCAA refunded about N700,000 to consumers and ensured that defective products were repaired or replaced.

The person in charge said that most of the refunds were for consumers who had prepaid for goods but the sellers had not yet shipped them. A total of 46 consumers benefited from these refunds.

The bureau also halted the operations of a pyramid scheme called “PUTH Group” and warned the public not to get involved in a similar scam called “ENVEER.”

The CCAA has also contacted and monitored more than 50 registered e-commerce business owners. Of the 79 e-commerce entities registered with the Ministry of Trade, only 56 are operational.

The official said most of the monitored e-commerce businesses were complying with the Trade and Industry Rules, 2023.

A small number of entities that failed to meet certain standards were issued rectification letters and provided guidance to help them achieve compliance.

Consumer complaints have decreased this year, with a total of 148 complaints received. The highest number of complaints was in 2022, with a total of 360 complaints received, and the lowest number of complaints was in 2019, with a total of 39 complaints received.