Latest News
CCPC Fines Airtel Money and Farm Depot
2022-12-28
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Board of Commissioners has fined Airtel Money and Farm Depot 3% of their respective annual turnovers for engaging in anti-competitive business practices. The two companies were fined during the 59th Board of Commissioners meeting on the adjudication of cases held in Lusaka on 5th December,2022.
According to CCPC’s investigations, it was established that Airtel Money had engaged in discriminatory conduct by charging different fees to players in the betting and gaming markets.
The Board of Commissioners found Airtel Money to be in contravention of Sections (16) (1),16 (2) (a) and 16 (2) (c) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010, as they unfairly increased cash collection and cash disbursement fees among different sports betting companies as well as applying dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions.
Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners has fined Farm Depot 3% of its annual turnover for engaging in a restrictive business practice of tying the purchase of Day-Old Chicks (DOCs) to buying chicken feed. Investigations by the CCPC reveal that Farm Depot was imposing on its customers the condition of purchasing DOCs with either zamfeed, master farmer, nutri feeds or novatek chicken feed. The Board of Commissioners found Farm Depot to have contravened Sections 16 (1), 16 (2)(a) and 16(2)(d) as read together with Section 15 of the Act. Farm Depot has since been directed to desist from making the purchase of DOCs with chicken feed mandatory.
Rainford Mutabi
Expired Goods Worth Over K7,000 Seized in Monze District
2022-12-08
The seized assorted beverages, foodstuffs and cosmetic products were expired and therefore not fit for human consumption. Selling or offering for sale expired or products not fit for purpose is against the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010 as well as the Food Safety Act No. 7 of 2019.
In light of the above, CCPC and MTC wish to warn all suppliers, retailers and distributors to cease and desist from selling unsuitable products which have exceeded their shelf life.
To ensure enhanced consumer protection in the country, CCPC in collaboration with MTC and other relevant stakeholders will continue to enforce the law in accordance with their respective mandates.
Rainford Mutabi
Commemoration of the 2022 World Competition Day
2022-12-05
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uxipRX5e2Z8MuF_UhffroONAqJcgHFDm?usp=share_link
CCPC,CCC
CONSUMER ALERT
2022-11-21
The COMESA Competition Commission (“the Commission”) has become aware that on 12th October 2022, the National Medical Stores of Uganda issued a recall for the oxytocin injection 10 IU/ML batch no. 128109, Ref: NMS/ N° 22/6 manufactured on 02/2021 and expiring on 01/2023. The recalled drug is manufactured by Gland Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India and supplied by Gittoes Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The product batch was recalled as it failed the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standard specifications for the visible particulate matter. The recall from the National Medical Stores of Uganda requested the general public to stop further use of the drug.
The Commission has established that recalled drug is supplied in the other Member States and therefore pursuant to Article 30(1)(b) of the COMESA Competition Regulations (the “Regulations”) wishes to alert the public and authorities in the Common Market on the possible risks of using the recalled batch of the above drug. Further, the Commission wishes to advise consumers who may have already used the recalled batch to seek medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional and report case to the National Drug Authority or any other relevant authorities.
The Commission wishes to request any person who establishes that the specific batch of the recall drug is being sold in the COMESA Region to report the matter to the Commission on +265 (0) 1 772466 or contact the undersigned on mdisasa@comesa.int; or Mr. Steven Kamukama, Manager Consumer Welfare and Advocacy Division on skamukama@comesa.int .
Affected persons may also contact their national consumer institutions or any other body with the mandate on consumer protection in their countries.
International Consumer Protection