COMMENCEMENT OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGED SUPPLY OF PRODUCTS LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY TO HEALTH OR PHYSICAL HARM TO CONSUMERS
Notice is hereby given to interested stakeholders and the general public that the Competition and Fair Trading Commission has commenced investigations against twenty one (21) manufacturers of assorted spirits and liquor products on allegations of supplying products which are likely to cause injury to health or do not comply with prescribed consumer safety standards.
The companies under investigation are as follows:
- Bwenzi Group Limited
- Premier Cane Spirits
- Cheers Distributors
- Global Beverages Limited
- ASK Beverages Ltd
- Global Kings Beverages Limited
- Alliance Beverages Ltd
- SR Distilleries
- Silver Spirits
- Shine Beverages Ltd
- Seven Hills Beverages Ltd
- Bharath Beverages (2013) Ltd
- General Beverages
- Reddy's Beverages Ltd
- Goodwill Enterprises
- Spectra Beverages Ltd
- Seven Hills Groups Limited
- Shamboko Beverages
- Vrushadri Spirits Limited
- Chilwa Investments Ltd
- Kallos Trading
The investigations follow complaints that the Commission received alleging that spirits, liquor, gin and whisky, which are alcoholic beverages produced by these companies, do not have standard certification marks on their packaging. .
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission is interested in the matter as it appears to raise serious concerns under the Competition and Fair Trading Act (CFTA) and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
It should be noted that commencement of investigations neither presupposes that any of the companies under investigation have violated the law. The Commission will, in accordance with Section 8(2) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act, conduct an investigation to determine whether the alleged conduct has violated the law. In particular, the Commission will determine the following:
- Whether or not, the products are likely to cause injury to health or physical harm to consumers;
- Whether or not, the products conform to prescribed consumer safety standards.
Competition and Consumer protection laws make it mandatory for all goods produced in Malawi to undergo conformance assessment, testing and certification by appropriate certification bodies such as the Malawi Bureau of Standards. The absence of certification marks on a product packaging not only appear to raise concerns on the suitability of the product for human consumption, but also whether the product meets the Malawi standards
In view of this, the Commission hereby gives Notice to all interested stakeholders and the general public to submit any information they may have on the companies under investigation to the Commission. The information can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. not later than 30 June 2017.
If you wish to seek further details and/or clarification on any aspect of this investigation, you may get in touch with our officials by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The information you will make available to the Commission shall be treated with the strictest confidentiality and will only be used for the purpose of this investigation.
CHARLOTTE WEZI MALONDA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
