SLBS Conducts Market Surveillance

The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) is actively implementing its market surveillance program, in accordance with the Standards Act 14 of 1990 (Chapter 13.25) and the Standards Regulations, across various retail outlets and supermarkets on the island. This initiative aims to ensure compliance with compulsory labelling standards, safeguard consumer interests, and promote fair trade practices. Market surveillance inspectors conduct thorough inspections at local retail locations, where they identify themselves to store managers and present their SLBS Inspector ID. During these inspections, any nonconforming products are promptly brought to the attention of the store manager, followed by a formal notification outlining the specific products in breach of the established standards. According to Part 4, Clause 32 (a and b) of the Standards Act, it is illegal to sell or offer for sale any goods, services, or processes that do not conform to declared compulsory standards. This includes any failure to label, package, or advertise goods in compliance with these standards. Retailers found with nonconforming products are required to remove these items from shelves and implement corrective actions. Common label non-conformities identified during inspections include: Absence of a label Label only presented in a foreign language Missing best before or batch...