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Expats held for tampering with products� expiry dates

by ONA
January 31, 2013 , 10 : 39 am | 1 comment

Racket unearthed: The traders had distributed the products to several shops, using the company�s vehicles. ONA

Muscat: The field enforcement teams at the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) yesterday spotted large quantities (more than 1.8 million pieces) of expired candy and children's products, in which the original expiry dates had been replaced with new expiry dates of several years ahead.

These items posed a grave health risk to children. The accused, all expatriates, were caught red-handed while preparing to distribute the products to the market in different parts of the Sultanate.

The PACP said, after changing the expiry dates on the expired products, the traders had distributed them to several shops, using the company's vehicles and some distributors. The accused had been engaged in this activity for several years now.

Dr. Said bin Khamis Al Ka'abi, Chairman of the PACP, noted that the expiry date is very important for ensuring the safety of products. Different laws and regulations have been established to protect the health and safety of consumers.

Some unscrupulous suppliers and traders have invented ways to generate money, regardless of whether this money is made at the expense of end users, who will suffer aches and pains or diseases, he said.

Serious crime
He added that the law-enforcement officers at the Authority had spotted the expatriate workers trying to replace the original expiry dates with new dates and putting expired products into new packages with new expiry dates. This constitutes a serious crime that jeopardises the health of children.

Dr. Said added that since its establishment, the Authority has uncovered new methods of deception that endanger the public's health. Unfortunately, the deterrent laws are weak and cooperation from a few other relevant organisations is still unsatisfactory.

Dr. Said praised the cooperation between the Public Prosecution and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and thanked them for their unlimited support to the Authority's efforts.
He affirmed that anyone who tried to endanger the public's health would be held legally accountable because no one is above the law.

Probe on
It is worth mentioning that the Authority has taken all necessary steps in these cases. The Authority, in collaboration with its partners, is trying to find out how these commodities entered the Sultanate.

The Authority has called upon traders and suppliers to comply with market ethics and maintain transparency with consumers.

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