The Ministry of Finance and Economy through the Weights and Measures Unit (SDT), Industry and Business Ecosystem Division and the Department of Consumers Affairs (DCA), Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) conducted a joint Enforcement Operation on Thursday, 22nd September 2022 in Temburong.
The operation was a routine enforcement initiative to ensure weights and measures machines used for business activity are registered and verified in accordance to the Weights and Measures Act 1983 Chapter 151. The Operation also enforced the Price Control Act, Chapter 142 and its regulations to ensure 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.
During the operation, SDT officers found six (6) units of weighing machines complied with the Weights and Measures Act, 1983 Chapter 151 and its stipulated guidelines. In addition, two (2) Warning Notices were issues for two (2) offences under the Price Control Act, Chapter 142 namely, failure to comply with the set maximum price for cooking oil and failure to display price clearly, as well as the use of misleading price tags. Business premises inspected were as follows:
Bil
| Shop / Market / Tamu
| SDT
| DCA, JPES |
1
| Ya Nur Trading Company
| Comply Weights and Measures Acts and stipulated guidelines under the Act.
| 2 Warning Notice – selling above the maximum price set for price-controlled items and no price display as well as misleading prices.
|
2
| Laku Jaya Mini Mart
| Comply Weights and Measures Acts and stipulated guidelines under the Act.
| Comply Price Control Act, Chapter 142.
|
3
| Kainat Group of Company
| Comply Weights and Measures Acts and stipulated guidelines under the Act.
| Comply Price Control Act, Chapter 142.
|
4
| Pasar Pekan Bangar
| Comply Weights and Measures Acts and stipulated guidelines under the Act.
| Sellers are advised to display prices of items.
|
Businesses are reminded to comply with the Price Control Act, Chapter 142 in the effort to help the country build a sustainable business environment with ethical business conducts. 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 the Weights and Measures (Verification) Regulations, 1994 under section 3(2); 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 offence is a fine of BND1,000.00 or imprisonment for three (3) months or both and 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. 7. Meanwhile, failure to comply with the Price Control Act and its regulations may result in a compound of up to BND1,000.00, with repeat offenders potentially facing a maximum fine of up to BND20,000.00 and imprisonment of up to five (5) years.
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