KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 12
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration today issued a circular to all the local levels, directing them to step up market monitoring to check black-marketing, hoarding, profiteering, adulteration, artificial shortage of daily consumables and other unethical trade practices during the festive season.
In response to the decision of the 67th meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee led by Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, the MoFAGA has urged the local governments to carry out their activities as per the existing Consumer Protection Act, 2018, to protect and promote the constitutional right to obtain quality goods and services.
As per the circular, each local government will have to form a local market monitoring committee to carry out field inspection and monitoring of the market in matters related to supply system, price, quality, purity of goods or services, among others. The committee also consists of representatives from other government bodies and consumers. This committee may form market monitoring teams or sub-committees as needed.
According to the MoFAGA, the local levels are also required to designate an in-spection officer from among the office-level employees in the local levels to carry out monitoring of availability of quality goods or services at reasonable prices for consumers by making market and supply system effective.
Amid the escalating inflation rate, general consumers are not able to fully exercise the rights guaranteed by the constitution and prevailing laws. The agencies concerned, which are responsible for monitoring and regulating the market have failed to perform their duties and responsibilities, and to combat production, sale and supply of sub-standard goods, food adulteration, overcharging, profiteering and black-marketing.
Consumers have the right not only to be safe, be informed and to select, but also to be heard, compensated and to receive consumer education. Though the concerned agencies claim to have been controlling, monitoring and regulating unethical trade practices, they are still far behind in delivering effective results.
According to the law, if any goods or service provider performs any act against consumer interest, the aggrieved party or his/her attorney may file a complaint to the inspection officer. Any black-marketer, hoarder or adulterer may be subjected to a fine anywhere between Rs 200,000 and Rs 300,000.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
