The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has reminded traders that they are required to maintain bills, invoices or other relevant documents establishing the source of goods kept for sale, storage, distribution or display.
Under Direction No. 83 issued by the CAA, manufacturers, warehouse owners, suppliers, distributors and traders must possess a written, printed or electronic receipt, bill or invoice for such goods.
The document should include the supplier’s name and address, date of purchase, purchase price, type of goods, quantity and, where applicable, the batch number. The direction has been in effect since April 27, 2022.
The CAA said traders who cannot establish the source of goods, particularly imported products, could face difficulties during inspections.
Officials may trace the supply chain from the trader to the supplier, wholesaler or distributor and importer to establish the source of the goods, it said.
The CAA said relevant documents may be inspected during market inspections and raids, and legal action could be taken if violations are established. Goods may also be taken into custody as case productions and produced before court where necessary.
The authority urged traders to securely retain bills, invoices and other supply documents for all goods kept at their premises and ensure that electronic invoices can be produced when required. (Newswire)
