Latest News

CCPC and MMC Seize Goods Worth Over K3,000 in Western Province

2021-08-11

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in partnership with the Mongu Municipal Council (MMC) have seized assorted goods worth K3,901 in Mongu district Western Province.

Among the items seized include Yess- Ginger Beer, Red Rock Cola, Frooty Soft Drink, Jolly Juice, Twist Drink, Fanta, Sprite, Cowbell Milk sachets, Freshpikit Baked Beans, Flair Baked Beans, D’lite Grown Ups, Hugos Mixed Fruit as well as Chelsea, Chicco and Choco Mint- Biscuits.

Other products seized are KOO Baked Beans, Milo, Rhodes Mixed Vegetables,Rhodes Mixed Fruit Jam, Riteband Peach Halves, Riteband Mixed Vegetables, Deep Clean- Bar Soap, Protex, Always Sanitary Pads, raw Apples and Oranges including Big Tree, Cowbell and NIDO milk products.

The seized products did not meet the mandatory product information standards set by Section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010 as well as the Food and Drugs Act Cap 303 of the Laws of Zambia. 

The inspection covered 10 trading premises of Mandanga’s Central Business District (CBD) in Mongu and aimed at assessing the traders’ compliance levels with the Act for enhancement of competition and promotion of consumer protection in Zambia.

The Commission in collaboration with MCC and other relevant stakeholders will continue to enforce the law in accordance with their respective mandates
 
in order to ensure that consumers are protected from any unfair trading practices in the country.

Namukolo M. Kasumpa

CALL FOR COMMENTS

2021-06-08

The Commission is currently working on a paper titled “Consumer Financial Education Strategies on How to Identify and Combat Online Scams”. This paper seeks to highlight and share some important information to consumers on online scams and how to identify them pursuant to the Competition and Consumer Protection Act. In view of the above, the Commission seeks your comments/input on the same. Therefore, kindly download the said paper from the url provided. https://www.ccpc.org.zm/media/guide/Consumer-Financial-Education-Strategies-On-How-To-Identify-And-Combat-Online-Scams.pdf 

CCPC

Google Play Store to require app providers to provide consumers with detailed information regarding data collection and use following growing international pressure

2021-05-20

Following international intervention by consumer protection agencies from 27 countries that are members of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), Google announced that app providers will be required to indicate on the Google Play Store what personal data each app keeps and potentially shares about its users. This follows an open letter from ICPEN to digital businesses in 2018, followed by a letter from the group of 27 agencies to both Apple and Google in 2019 pressuring them to make the requested changes.1 This joint action was endorsed by Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN).  

With this update to the Google Play Store these ICPEN members have successfully managed to get the two biggest app stores to provide consumers with clear and comprehensive information enabling consumers to compare and choose apps based on how they use personal data. 

Google is planning to roll this feature out in phases and will make this mandatory for all apps from 2022 onward. Apple already made similar changes in 2020. You can read more about this here.  

This joint initiative highlights the importance of international collaboration to ensure consumers are safeguarded in a world where they are spending an increasing amount of time online where they interact with multiple apps daily.   

The Consumer Authority of Norway, The UK Competition and Markets Authority and The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets lead this joint action. You can find their statements below.  

The Consumer Authority of Norway: Google will improve information on how apps collect and use personal data  

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets: Google to require providers to add information about data use to apps in its app store  

Quotes
 
“In a world where borders between nations are no longer a potential barrier to misconduct, international cooperation and collaboration are fundamental in consumer protection. Ensuring consumers are provided with clear and straightforward language regarding the personal data an app both collects and uses, is important for consumers to make informed decisions before downloading any app.” 

-Josephine A.L. Palumbo, President, ICPEN 

“We applaud our counterparts in achieving this impactful result organized by 27 ICPEN members, and appreciate the opportunity to participate in the compliance action - a first for inter-network collaboration in the privacy and consumer protection domains. Such collaborative actions in these increasingly intersecting regulatory spheres provide a more holistic and complementary protection to global citizens for both their consumer interests and privacy rights.”  -OPC-Canada, UK-ICO, PCPD-HK, PPA-Israel – GPEN Committee Members Listed . . .  

Quick Facts  

• ICPEN is an organization of more than 65 consumer protection agencies from around the world working together to combat fraudulent, deceptive and unfair trading practices. • GPEN is a group of privacy regulators whose mission is to improve cooperation in enforcement of cross-border laws affecting privacy.
• This action against Google follows an international intervention by ICPEN members in 2020 where Apple agreed to indicate on its App Store what personal data each app uses. See more detail here.

ICPEN News

Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited fined for Unfair Trading Practices

2021-04-28

A 0.5 percent fine has been imposed on Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Board of Commissioners for engaging in unfair trading practices.

This follows a complaint that was lodged before the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in which the complainant Mr. Liyungu Muyunda alleged that Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited failed to deliver roofing materials as per agreed terms and conditions.

Facts of the matter were that the Complainant made a payment of K4, 200.00 between 10th and 24th December 2019 to Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited for roofing materials worth K20, 820.00 on hire purchase. He was further assured at the time of purchase that the materials would be delivered upon payment of the K4, 200.00. 

However, despite paying the agreed down payment of K K4, 200.00. the materials were not delivered and his demands for the K4, 200.00. refund was ignored. Investigation findings by the Commission revealed that Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited did fail to deliver roofing materials to Mr. Liyungu Muyunda contrary to the agreed period. 

As such, the Board of Commissioners has directed Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited to refund Mr. Liyungu Muyunda a sum of K4, 200 within ten (10) days of receipt of the Board Decision in accordance with Section 5(d) and for breach of Section 49(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010 respectively.

Further, the Board has directed Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited to submit their latest annual books of accounts to the Commission for calculation of the actual fine within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Board Decision.The decision to fine Kwacha Industries and Hardware Limited was made during the 48th Board of Commissioners for the adjudication of cases held in Lusaka.

Namukolo M. Kasumpa