Sixteen errant milk powder traders, importer nabbed

Irangika Range

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has taken legal action against 16 errant traders and one milk powder importer who sold infant milk powder at higher prices than the stipulated controlled price.

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando told the Daily News that the errant traders were nabbed during raids conducted this week.

"We will produce these errant traders before the Courts," he said.

"We started receiving complaints about infant milk powder being sold for high prices. Therefore, we have intensified islandwide raids to arrest those who violated consumer laws," he said.

"We hope to increase the frequency of the raids and have also taken measures to deploy mobile raiding units to crack down on such fraudulent vendors," he said. He said that consumers can lodge complaints against errant traders and infant milk powder importers to 0117755481, 0117755482 and 0771088922.

"If any trader tries to earn a profit by placing unnecessary burdens on the consumers, they will be prosecuted," he added.