Jhapa fines 5 traders over 515,000 rupees for acting against consumer interest

The District Administration Office in Jhapa has fined five traders found acting against consumer interest a total of about 515,000 rupees.

The action came after a market monitoring drive conducted from Bhadra 20 to Asoj 28 found traders selling expired or unfit-for-consumption goods and charging excessive prices. According to Chief District Officer Shrawan Kumar Pokharel, about 134 firms and businesses in the district were inspected during this period. Expired and unfit-for-consumption goods worth about 240,000 rupees were destroyed during the inspections.

A grocery store selling expired cattle feed and a supplier selling fencing wire at an abnormal price were each fined about 200,000 rupees. A store selling non-edible sour substances and an industry selling ice cream in unauthorized foreign packaging were each fined about 50,000 rupees. A sweet shop was fined about 15,000 rupees, while a shop in Damak-1 was warned.

CDO Pokharel said action will continue against traders who raise prices by taking advantage of the festival season. He said it is the responsibility of traders and all stakeholders to protect consumers' health and interests. The office has urged traders and consumers to cooperate in making the market consumer-friendly.