CPA inspects markets ahead of new academic year

Muscat: Consumer Protection Authority intensified its visits to shops selling school supplies. This comes after the Supreme Committee's decision to get students back to schools for the new academic year 2021-2022.

Consumer Protection Authority said: "General Directorate of Consumer Protection in North Al Batinah Governorate has intensified its inspection campaigns on markets, libraries and stationery stores, in accordance to the decision made by the Supreme Committee, which is in charge of dealing with Covid-19, to get students back to schools for the 2021-2022 academic year."

As students return to schools, more people are expected to visit markets, especially stores selling school supplies. The Directorate has formed teams of judicial control officers who will check markets, shops, libraries and stores selling fabrics and shoes in particular in North Al Batinah Governorate. This is to ensure the availability of all goods and school supplies as well as to monitor promotions and sales that accompany the back-to-school season.

Besides supervising, the teams will also spread awareness to consumers about the right prices and place purchase plans to reduce peoples' financial burden.

CPA added: "The directorate assures all suppliers of the need to abide by consumer protection laws and legislation to avoid legal accountability, and not to take advantage of the current period to raise prices without justification."