(Seychelles News Agency) - An international supermarket chain in Seychelles has been fined SCR 100,000 ($7,000) by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) for failing to comply with consumer protection regulations. 

SPAR Eden Island supermarket was found to have sold goods past their expiry dates, without prices, without an expiry date, and without labels in plain language.

The FTC Board of Commissioners has given the supermarket 60 days to make the payment.

SNA contacted SPAR supermarket but store officials declined to comment.

The supermarket located at Eden Island, a reclaimed land along the eastern coast of the main island of Mahe, is the first SPAR retail shop to open in Seychelles in 2015. 

SPAR is an international group of independently owned and operated retailers and wholesalers who work together in partnership under the SPAR international brand from the Netherlands.

The supermarket was found to have sold goods past their expiry dates, without prices, without an expiry date, and without labels in plain language. (Rassin Vannier) Photo License: CC-BY

The chief executive of FTC, Francis Lebon, told SNA on Wednesday that the commission is working very hard to ensure that consumers get a fair deal.

“We are constantly doing our routine checks in shops and other businesses to ensure that they are selling products that are good and meet the general safety requirements,” said Lebon.

Fines are currently being imposed on companies or individuals found to be in breach of the Consumer Protection Act 2010 of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. Last year, 97 complaints were related to consumer goods.

The Fair Trading Commission is an independent government body established under the Fair Trading Commission Act, 2009. The Commission’s aim is to safeguard the interests of consumers, promote competition and fair trade in Seychelles to benefit consumers, businesses, and the economy.

The Commission is empowered to carry out investigations in relation to the conduct of business to determine if any enterprise is engaging in practices that in breach of the Consumer Protection Act of 2010.