National Consumer Protection Regulator (ANPC) found irregularities in Bucharest"s markets

Viviani Mirică

Inspectors of the National Consumer Protection Regulator (ANPC) yesterday went on verification in the Sudului, Berceni, Străduinţei and Progresului markets of Bucharest, which led to the confiscation of goods that were expired, unlabeled or stored in unsanitary conditions.

The verification caused the ire of store owners, while consumers were unhappy as well with the quality of some of the products sold and the unjustified price increase as Easter draws near. The price of eggs, for instance, went up 10 bani in the Sudului market, from 0.35 to 0.45 lei.

ANPC uncovered foods that did not have any information on price, quantity, expiration date or ingredients used. In one such case, there were found unlabeled bakery products, which means no information on their validity, storage requirements, or composition was available. One shop assistant claimed that those products were just a "taster".

The products were confiscated by the inspectors of the ANPC, who warn that unlabeled bakery products may be hazardous for consumer health.

Irregularities were also found in the case of cakes that were labeled (no information on weight or the temperature and humidity required for storage).

ANPC employees also confiscated expired fish and cheese.

One of the ANPC inspectors described some of the irregularities found in a cheese store in the Sudului market: "Cow milk Swiss cheese with noticeable visual changes, with no expiration date or data about the producer ". When discussing another cheese product, he added: "This product was put on display in a wrapping normally used for household waste and was not labeled in any way".

Consumer Protection inspectors also warned consumers on the quality of some alcoholic beverages.

"Store owners sometimes deliberately mislead consumers on the composition and the quality of some alcoholic drinks. For instance a certain fermented alcoholic drink was sold as wine. It was just a flavored drink, that the retailer was trying to pass off as wine, even though it was not labeled as such, by displaying it next to the wine bottles". What"s more, the drink in question, called "Grape Flavored Fermented Drink", had no expiration date.

11 food stores and 14 other stores selling clothing, shoes, toys, electronics and household appliances were investigated. The ANPC levied 25 fines worth 172000 lei. Further more, it confiscated 46 kg of food products (mackerel, Swiss and feta cheese), worth 4100 lei.

Bogdan Pandelică, chairman of the ANPC, stated:

"Today"s verification (ed. note: yesterday) is a preemptive measure, meant to ensure the preservation of high standards for products which are put on sale during this period. On the occasion of this holiday, our employees will check retailers" licenses, expiration dates of the products on sale, if the storage conditions are adequate, if the price displayed matches the one on the receipt, and if the products" net weight matches the one on the label".