“We found that most of the pharmacies were selling date expired medicines. Some were found operating without business registration certificate and selling ayurvedic medicines without seeking permission,” said Prem Prasad Paudel, director of DoC.[break]
The team inspected Charu Medical Store, Resha Pharma, Helping Hands Pharmacy and Bindhawasini Medical Store at Chabahil.
Charu Medical Store was found selling outdated and unregistered medicines. Similarly, it was found providing lab services without taking permission from the government. Reshma Pharma, on the other hand, was found selling ayurvedic medicine even though it had permission to sell only allopathic medicines. Helping Hands Pharmacy was found selling date expired medicines, while Bindhawasini Medical Store did not have business registration certificate.
The team also inspected Larke Superstore at Ekantakuna, Jay Hanuman Khadya Store at Jhamsikhel, Namaste Supermarket at Pulchowk, Bhawani Supermarket at Jhamsikhel and Smart Departmental store at Jawalakhel.
While the team found no wrongdoing in Namaste Supermarket and Smart Departmental Store, it found that other stores didn´t have either business registration certificate or certificate issued by Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology or both.
Market inspectors have asked proprietors of drug stores to correct their mistakes and present themselves at the department to burnish clarification within three days. The proprietors of groceries, however, have been given seven days to correct lapses and furnish clarification.
Sample of Coca-Cola products to be tested
Meanwhile, DoC has written a letter to the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) to check samples of Coca- Cola, Fanta and Sprite and ascertain whether or not they contain inedible substances.
“We took the decision after some newspapers and television stations reported that inedible substances have been found in bottles of Coca-Cola products,” Paudel said, adding, “We have asked DFTQC to take necessary actions if inedible substances are found in the samples.”
Advertisement of Bajaj bike banned
DoC has banned the broadcast and publication of ´Bajaj Choot ko Loot´ campaign of Hansaraj Hulaschand and Company - the authorized dealer of Bajaj bikes in Nepal.
The department took the decision after Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights-Nepal filed complaints at DoC, arguing that the advertisement terrorizes people.
DoC has asked officials of Hansaraj Hulaschand and Company to furnish details of prize amount distributed to customers so far.
Sekhar Golchha, director of Hansraj Hulaschand and Company, said he has no idea why the advertisement was banned when Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has no objection to it. “The advertisement is based on fun element of the movie ´Loot´,” added Golchha.
Raj Kumar Bhattari, president of Advertising association of Nepal (AAN), rubbished suggestions that the advertisement has created negative impact in the society.
“We haven´t found anything wrong in the advertisement. It is based on the movie ´Loot´ which was shown in most of most of the cinema halls in the capital,” Bhattarai said.
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