The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs has fined a number of Virgin Islands businesses for violating consumer laws, among them fraudulent and deceitful practices committed in the goods and services market.
The department also took the rare step of publishing the names of the businesses it said violated or continue to violate the statutory provisions regarding pull dates and pricing. Led by Commissioner Devin Carrington, D.L.C.A. said the list is not exhaustive and that it would continue to publish violators on a regular basis.
According to D.L.C.A., a pull date means the last date on which a perishable or semi-perishable food commodity in package form, perishable, or semi-perishable food should be sold without risk of spoilage, loss of value, or palatability. Selling such items past pull dates is prohibited, the department said, adding that pull dates are required by law to be placed on all such items. Similarly, the law requires that items for sale contain the price at which it is being sold.
The department said it has discovered that many violators simply pay the fines levied agaisnt them and continue the practice of offering expired items for sale.
“Such conduct by businesses licensed by the department can result in financial as well as health and safety harm to consumers,” D.L.C.A. said. “Therefore, making the public aware of offenders of consumer related laws is important information that enables the consumer to make the best choices on how to spend their hard-earned money as well as how to protect the health of themselves and their families.”
See the businesses and the offenses below.
[embeddoc url=”https://viconsortium.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Copy-of-weights-and-measures-citations-STT.xlsx” viewer=”microsoft”]To make reports call DLCA on St. Thomas 340-714-3522, or call DLCA on St. Croix 340-713-3522.
Tags: dlca, licensing and consumer affairs, usvi
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