801 reusable plastic bottles seized in Pettah raid

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has seized 801 reusable plastic bottles during special raids conducted at trading establishments in the Pettah area.

The bottles were taken into custody as case productions from shops found to be selling reusable plastic bottles, the CAA said.

The Authority said investigations into the relevant establishments are currently underway and legal action will be instituted before the appropriate Magistrate’s Courts upon completion of the investigations.

According to the CAA, reusable plastic bottles intended for carrying drinkable liquids are subject to the SLS 1616 standard.

Reusable plastic bottles manufactured in Sri Lanka are required to bear the SLS Product Certification Mark issued by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

For imported bottles, however, displaying the SLS Mark is not mandatory. Such products must instead have been inspected and approved for sale under the SLSI Import Inspection Scheme, the CAA said.

The Authority urged traders to ensure that all applicable legal and standards requirements are met before purchasing or selling reusable plastic bottles.

Traders have also been advised to properly maintain bills, invoices and supplier information relating to the purchase and supply of such products, as these records are important for establishing the source of products and tracing the supply chain.

Consumers purchasing reusable plastic bottles have been advised to check whether locally manufactured products carry the SLS Product Certification Mark. In the case of imported products, consumers can request information from traders regarding the relevant approval.

The CAA also urged consumers to obtain and retain bills or receipts as proof of purchase.

The Authority said compliance with applicable legal and standards requirements when selling reusable plastic bottles is the responsibility of traders and that similar inspections and raids will continue islandwide.

Information regarding market irregularities can be reported to the CAA through its 1977 short hotline during office hours.