Deputy Minister of Trade Cracks Down on Expired Goods in Sierra Leone

In a move to protect consumer safety and ensure fair trade practices, Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade, Fatmata Kargbo, has launched a series of spot checks on shops and supermarkets in the Western Area to identify and confiscate expired and substandard goods. 

This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, the National Consumer Protection Commission (NCPC), and the Standards Bureaus, is a direct response to their commitment to safeguarding citizens from harmful products.

Deputy Minister Kargbo expressed her sadness that some businesses were willing to put the health of citizens, especially children, at risk by selling expired goods. She said this was unacceptable and that the Ministry of Trade and its agencies would ensure those responsible faced the full force of the law. She urged citizens to be vigilant when shopping, checking expiration dates and reporting any suspicious activities to the NCPC. 

This inspection campaign is not a one-off event, but an ongoing effort to combat the sale of expired and substandard goods.