The Consumer Protection
Council (CPC) last Monday, announced that it would soon commence a nationwide campaign to sensitise consumers on the need to ensure that they checked products before purchasing them.
The Director-General of the council, Mrs Dupe Atoki, made the announcement during the inauguration of the campaign“ Check the Best Before (BB)” in Abuja.
According to her, the issue of BB dates is crucial owing to the grave risks and economic losses suffered by Nigerian consumers who purchase products without paying attention to their expiry dates.
“ Many Nigerians are still unaware of the fact that some non-edible products like paints, cosmetics, batteries and tyres also expire.
“ There are instances where expired tyres have failed and caused fatal accidents; where expired batteries have denied consumers value for money; and expired body cream has caused irritation and bacterial infection.
“ To drastically stem the tide of avoidable deaths and loss of hard-earned money suffered by consumers who purchase expired products, the check the BB date campaign will be taken to different parts of the country.
“ Also, arrangements have already been concluded for the council’s zonal offices in Osogbo, Awka, Port-Harcourt, Minna, Katsina, Bauchi and Lagos to begin the campaign,’’ Atoki said.
She said that the consumers’ rights were being exploited by some businesses who brazenly engaged in all sorts of sharp practises that undermined the safety, comfort and economic interest of consumers.
Atoki said the CPC Act CAP 5, LFN 2004 specifically mandated the council to ensure increased public consumer awareness.
“ Also, the United Nation’s Guidelines for Consumer Protection which serves as an international policy framework for consumer organisations worldwide places great emphasis on consumer education.
“ The guidelines imposed an obligation on governments to formulate or encourage the development of general consumer education and information programmes.
“ Cognisant to the foregoing, I made it a cardinal policy of my administration in the council to embark on massive consumer education and awareness campaign,’’ she said.
The director-general said the council would closely monitor the activities of manufacturers, distributors and retailers to enforce the provisions of extant rules and regulations on BB dates.
She said the council was empowered to demand product label showing date and place of manufacture of a commodity as well as certification of compliance.
“ It is also empowered to ban the sale, distribution and advertisement of products, which do not comply with safety or health regulations of consumers.
“ Therefore, anyone found circumventing the rules and regulations will be severely punished in accordance to law.
Atoki criticised some super stores that exposed their bottled water and beverages to direct sunlight in front of their shops.
She said that the practice was unacceptable and gave such dealers six months with effect from July 1 to find alternative ways of storing the products.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the council, Retired Air Commodore Ishaku Mwadkon, said most consumers did not know the importance of BB date or that they simply ignored it.