As parents face the huge expense of purchasing school uniforms and supplies for their children for the new academic year, the Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs has issued a caution to retailers who may want to take advantage of the rush.
The Ministry in a statement has reminded retailers of School Supplies of their obligations regarding the Distribution and Price of Goods Act, No. 35 of 2006. Retailers are called upon to heed the following provisions of the Distribution and Price of Goods Act which states:
Section:35 – (1) A trader shall, before the sale of any goods, the maximum price of which has been fixed pursuant to a Price Order, deliver to the Director an invoice and a calculation sheet, in the form prescribed in the Schedule, in respect of such goods for approval of the selling price. (2) A trader shall not sell goods unless –
(a) he or she complies with subsection (1); and (b) the Director has approved the selling price. (3) A trader shall not give any false quotation price on the invoice or calculation sheet.
(4) A trader who contravenes subsection (2) or (3) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both.
Retailers are also reminded that pursuant to:
Section 37 – (1) A person shall not sell or offer for sale any good in excess of the maximum price fixed by a Price Order.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.
Retailers of controlled items, such as: School Text Books, Exercise Books, Atlases, Dictionaries, Drawing Books, Note Books, Geometry Sets, Crayons and Colour Pencils are therefore reminded of their responsibilities as contained in the relevant sections of the abovementioned Act.
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