James Kon
Two warning notices were issued under Chapter 142 of the Price Control Act for failure to comply with the set maximum price for cooking oil, failure to display price clearly, and the use of misleading price tags during a joint operation in Temburong District on Thursday.
The operation was conducted by the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) through the Weights and Measures Unit (SDT), Industry and Business Ecosystem Division and the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS).
Six units of weighing machines complied with Chapter 151 of the Weights and Measures Act 1983 and its stipulated guidelines. Meanwhile, sellers at Pasar Pekan Bangar were advised to display price of items.
According to the agency, the operation was a routine initiative to ensure weighing and measuring machines used for business activities are registered and verified in accordance to the Act. The operation also enforced Chapter 142 of the Price Control Act and its regulations to ensure that controlled items under the Act are sold within the set maximum price and prices of goods are clearly displayed in the spirit of upholding consumer welfare within the country.
Businesses are reminded to comply with the Act to help the country build a sustainable business environment. Consumers are also advised to ensure weighing and measuring machines used for trading activities involving weight, volume and length of the devices bear a valid visible registration sticker issued by the unit.
As stipulated in Section 3(2) of the Weights and Measures (Verification) Regulations 1994, every person who uses or has in his possession for use for trade any weight, measure or instrument for weighing not stamped as required by this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.
The penalty for such an offence is a BND1,000 fine or imprisonment for three months or both. The instrument in question shall be liable to be forfeited and any contract, bargain, sale or dealing made by such weight, measure or instrument for weighing shall be deemed void.
Meanwhile, failure to comply with the Price Control Act and its regulations may result in a compound of up to BND1,000, with repeat offenders potentially facing a maximum fine of up to BND20,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.
