Govt collects 4.4 million revenue from consumer fraud cases

KATHMANDU: The number of consumer fraud cases in food items has increased recently.

During the government’s market monitoring, most of the food shops and food production companies have been taken into custody.

The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection have monitored 106 food shops in the last month, and of 27 firms have been taken into action. Similarly, 62 firms have been given a chance to improve their services and 16 firms have been asked for clarification.

According to the department, it has collected Rs. 4.4 million revenue taking action against the firms selling food items at high prices and selling expired items. Expired food items worth Rs 54,000 have been destroyed.

The department also said that the firms have been fined Rs 5,000 to Rs 300,000 for charging higher prices to consumers, creating artificial shortages and black-marketing, selling expired food, and not keeping purchase and sale bills.

Eggs and grains, hospitals, industries, clothing, and cosmetic shops, groceries and foodstuffs, department stores, construction materials, liquor shops, marts and meat shops, and pharmacies were monitored in different parts of the country including Kathmandu Valley.