Raising awareness for consumers about the requirements of products labeling was held in Yangon

According to the newly enacted Consumer Protection Law, the product labeling, described in the Section (18) will come into effect starting next week.

For raising awareness about the requirements for product labeling, an educative discussion was held at UMFCCI in Yangon on Thursday.

The event highlighted the eight facts for the product labeling requirements. It is learnt that the generic name of the goods, size, net weight, quantity, storage instruction, directions for use, side effect and allergy alert or warning must be displayed in Myanmar language. These descriptions can be expressed with one or more languages.

The officials from the Ministry of Commerce stressed the needs to follow the regulations described in the law, and action will be taken if there any violations found out.

Deputy Director General, Ministry of Commerce, Myint Cho said “We delayed to enact the new law for about one year so as for the businessmen to make preparations in advance. After the new law came into effect on 16th March, the businessmen must obey the regulations concerning the labeling. If they fail to follow the law, and we will take action to them according to the law.”

According to the new law, if there any damages found out for the product or the services during the guarantee period, the customers have the rights to claim for exchange, refund and compensation for the damages.

Assistant Director, Department of Consumer Affairs (Ministry of Commerce), Htet Win Aung said “The product labeling came into effect on coming 16th March. I explain  how to comply with the new law and implement for the businessman. About 4000 products follow the instructions according to the product labeling regulations. we also help and analyst the product labeling for the companies.”

Businessman, Ngwe Thazin Minn Purified Groundnut Oil, Aung Shwe said “By doing like this, the products which imported from other countries especially neighboring countries described the product labeling in their languages. Some products approach the expire date but we don’t know. And we don’t know what ingredients included in their products. Our country will also have responsibility for the products which exported to the other countries. We displayed with one or more languages.”

The new law provides details on prohibited activities and penalties. The maximum term for imprisonment is two years and the maximum fine is 20 million kyats.

(Myanmar International TV Channel: https://www.myanmaritv.com/news/product-labeling-raising-awareness-consumers )

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