Commerce Dept. inspects 51 firms in 3 days, fines up to Rs 2 lakh
Tasked with ensuring clean, transparent, and competitive business practices while safeguarding consumer rights, the department has penalized dozens of firms for irregularities and issued corrective directives.
KATHMANDU: The government has recently stepped up market monitoring efforts.
In just three days, the Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection inspected 51 firms.
Tasked with ensuring fair, transparent, and competitive business practices while safeguarding consumer access to quality goods and services, the department has recently intensified oversight and penalized dozens of firms found violating regulations.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, department officials conducted inspections across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur.
On Tuesday, 13 firms were inspected. Khilung Marketing Pvt. Ltd. alone was fined Rs 50,000, while the remaining 12 firms were issued directives for corrective actions.
On Wednesday, officials inspected 20 firms in the Valley. SP Linker Hub and ST Street Beverage Enterprises were instructed to present business-related documents to the department within three days, while other firms were advised to make necessary corrections.
On Thursday, 18 firms were inspected. Firms found in violation were fined up to NPR 200,000. Among them, New Shiv Store, Kathmandu-29, New Buspark, was fined Rs 201,000.
The department stated the fines were imposed in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, 2075, and the Consumer Protection Regulations, 2076.
Himalayan Brewery Pvt. Ltd. was also instructed to submit business documents within three days, while 16 other firms received directives for corrective measures, according to Director Narhari Tiwari.
Tiwari stated that the department has recently acted against firms that failed to display registration certificates, did not indicate Maximum Retail Price (MRP), engaged in relabeling, or tampered with quality, quantity, price, or measurement standards.
The department has been conducting monthly price analyses to control extreme price fluctuations, artificial shortages, and black marketing.
He added that the department is committed to the effective implementation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2075, making market surveillance intensive, regular, and impactful.
All products distributed and sold are now required to clearly display their maximum retail price, and the department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward syndicate operations, cartels, and black marketing, taking immediate action against violations.
These measures aim to establish a clean, orderly, and consumer-friendly market.
