News
Guidance for online retailers to prevent fakes
View(s):By Minaza Hassan
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has taken steps to develop guidelines for online retail platforms to identify product quality and ensure that they are not counterfeit, said Director Samantha Karunarathne.
Currently, there is no regulation or guidelines for products that are sold online. The aim of this initiative is to protect consumers and to promote a disciplined business culture, said Ms. Karunarathne.
Brand owners, whether based locally or abroad, provide their authorised importers or distributors with an official letter granting them exclusive rights to import, market and sell their products. This ensures authenticity and regulatory compliance.
In addition to obtaining brand authorisation, distributors are required to register their rights under the Intellectual Property Act and notify Sri Lanka Customs. This process helps enforce brand protection measures and prevents imports of counterfeit products.
Penalties for the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit products vary depending on the nature of the business from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 for individual business owners and Rs 10,000 to Rs 100,000 for companies.
For cosmetic products such as make-up, lotion and whitening creams, as per the Sri Lankan standards, the allowed mercury content is one mg per kilo.
Before legal action, samples are sent to laboratories.
Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a zero-mercury in whitening products campaign that addresses issues in certain whitening products and Sri Lanka has agreed to work with them.
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