NCC Cracks Down on 45 Suppliers for Selling Expired, Mislabelled Goods

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued Compliance Notices to 45 suppliers across South Africa for selling expired, spoiled, and mislabelled food items — including noodles, meat, biscuits, eggs, and dairy products, in violation of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

The notices follow a series of nationwide inspections aimed at enforcing the CPA and safeguarding consumer rights, especially in rural and peri-urban areas where violations were particularly severe.

Expired and Unlabelled Products

NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba said the inspections uncovered widespread non-compliance:

“Suppliers were found selling dairy products, meat, maize meal, snacks, and noodles that were expired or had no visible expiry or best-before dates. This directly violates Section 55(2) of the CPA, which entitles consumers to safe, usable, and quality goods.”

Additionally, some suppliers were caught selling boerewors and chicken without any product labelling, a breach of Section 24 of the Act.

Missing Prices and Receipts

In many stores, particularly in underserved areas, goods were displayed without price tags, violating Section 23(3) which requires that prices be clearly visible and accessible.

“Price visibility is fundamental to informed consumer choices and prevents exploitation,” said Ntaba.

The NCC also flagged suppliers for not issuing comprehensive sales records, including receipts that reflect the supplier’s name, address, VAT details, and a full product breakdown, as required by the Act.

NCC Issues Compliance Orders

All affected suppliers have been ordered to:

• Remove and destroy expired or non-compliant stock

• Properly label all food products

• Ensure prices are clearly displayed

• Issue complete and accurate receipts

Failure to comply may result in the NCC escalating cases to the National Consumer Tribunal, where offenders face administrative fines of up to R1 million or 10% of annual turnover.

A Wake-Up Call for Retailers

This crackdown sends a strong message: retailers must prioritise consumer safety and follow food labelling, pricing, and expiry regulations without exception.

“This action is about restoring consumer confidence and holding retailers accountable, whether they operate in urban malls or remote village stores,” Ntaba concluded.

Consumers are urged to report expired or mislabelled goods to the National Consumer Commission via their website or call centre to ensure swift action.

{Source: IOL}

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