The Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority found out that 26 per cent of the stores surveyed last year displayed packaged goods with inadequate labelling or no labelling at all. This is in violation of the Consumer Protection Rules and Regulations 2015. 880 grocery stores were surveyed in 17 districts for the report published recently.
The survey found that besides local products often lacking proper labelling, imported products did not have translated labels in either English or Dzongkha.
Sections 6 and 7 of the Food Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017 say that labelling and advertisements are primary means of communication between the seller and consumer of food items and that the authority concerned should ensure the display of information to facilitate informed choices for consumers while purchasing foods.
In addition, section 19 of the Consumer Protection Rules and Regulations 2015 mentions that both locally manufactured and imported products sold in Bhutan should be labelled as per national and international standards.
Regarding imported products, Section 25 of the Consumer Protection Rules and Regulations 2015 and sections 9 and 10 of the Food Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017mandates the need to translate labels written in languages other than Dzongkha and English to Dzongkha or English and affix them on the packages or shelves.
Despite instances of non-compliance, both shopkeepers and consumers acknowledge the benefits of having proper labels on food products.
“If the local products do not have labels, we cannot provide information to our customers. In addition, other than the bill we do not have more information. If the products have labels, we can easily segregate the fresh ones from the old. We can also provide clear information about the products,” said Tshering Wangda, a shopkeeper in Thimphu.
Tshewang Lhuendup, a customer said “I think labels are very important because, without a proper labelling, some people do not buy the products. Some claim that different ingredients are added in a product, but then when we consume it, we cannot really find them. To avoid such cases, I think labelling is very important.”
Karma Dorji, another customer said “I think labelling is important, because some people do not consume meat and if it is not written whether the product is a vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, consuming even a small amount of the food can harm them. Likewise, consuming expired products can also harm us.”
The report also emphasises the need for stringent enforcement of labelling standards to protect consumer rights and health of vulnerable populations such as children and illiterate consumers.
The Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority shared that young children and illiterates are considered vulnerable consumers due to their limited understanding, susceptibility to persuasive marketing, reliance on others for information, and lack of awareness of consumer rights, making them more prone to exploitation and poor purchasing decisions.
Businesses that fail to comply with the rules and regulations despite repeated reminders were asked to stop the sale of the products. They are also liable to pay a fine equivalent to the value of the products sold or displayed for sale at any given time.
Sonam Dendup and Pema Tshomo
Edited by Kipchu
