CFTC Uncovers 1,540 Expired, Uncertified Products
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has uncovered 1,540 expired and uncertified products during market inspections conducted over the past two weeks across 12 districts, raising fresh concerns over consumer safety.
The inspections covered Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mulanje, Salima, Nkhotakota, Chikwawa, Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba, Mzimba, Mzuzu and Kasungu.
CFTC spokesperson Innocent Helema said inspectors seized 891 expired products this week alone, including dairy products, cereals, biscuits, noodles, snacks, beverages, spices and personal care items.
“The widespread presence of these products across multiple categories reflects serious negligence by some traders and poses a direct health risk to consumers,” said Helema.
The latest findings follow last week’s operation, during which the Commission confiscated 649 expired and uncertified products from 14 shops in six districts, bringing the total seized during the two-week exercise to 1,540.
Helema warned that selling expired or uncertified products is a violation of the Competition and Fair Trading Act and could attract penalties of up to 10 percent of a trader’s annual turnover.
The Commission says it will continue nationwide inspections and has urged consumers to check expiry dates and product certification before purchasing goods, while reporting traders found selling expired or uncertified products.
