CAMA warns consumers of substandard and counterfeit products that flood the market during Christmas

* Appeal to relevant regulating institutions especially the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) to protect the economic and health interests of consumers

* Who will fall victim to these products due to their misleading adverts and lower prices ahead of Christmas

By Duncan Mlanjira

Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) is warning the general public that during the Festive Season, the market is mostly flooded with substandard and counterfeit products, which will be offered at cheaper prices but offering no economic benefits to consumers.

In a statement, CAMA Executive Director, John Kapito alerts consumers that “counterfeit and substandard products are often produced using substandard processes and poor manufacturing practices, which leads to poor quality of products and render them useless after a short period of usage”.

He indicated that these substandard and counterfeit products include electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, TV’s, music appliances, toys, bicycles for children, pharmaceuticals, among others, “which pose both financial and health challenges to consumers”.

“As we approach Christmas, most of these substandard and counterfeit products will be flooded and sold on the market at cheaper prices but offering no economic benefits to consumers.

“We are appealing to various regulating institutions, especially the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS), to protect the economic and health interests of many consumers who will fall victim to these products due to their misleading adverts and lower prices.”

Kapito reminded consumers that they should always demand for a receipt for purchases made, saying receipts assures them that they are provided with warranties and guarantees after such purchases.

He warned that most traders refuse to refund or replace products that have failed to perform if consumers do not produce a receipt of the item  bought, as there is no written and agreed warranty and guarantees, which offer for better redress mechanisms for refund.

Last month, the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) disclosed that 10% of the annual total complaints which it receives — which is about 40 complaints per year — relate to not honouring guarantees & warranties and exclusion of liability.

CFTC public relations officer, Innocent Helema, told Maravi Express that the Competition and Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Protection Act, provides that “traders must provide for guarantees and warranties of, at least, six months on all long term consumer products”. 

Asked how important is the requirement for traders to provide for guarantees and warranties, Helema said it is very key “because it protects consumers from losses that they are not responsible for — such as factory defects”. 

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) was established under the Competition and Fair Trading Act of 1998 with a mandate to regulate, monitor, control and prevent acts or behaviours which would adversely affect competition and fair trading in Malawi.