Combined effort to tackle substandard CFLs in market

By Ifham Nizam

Consumers Affairs Authority Chairman Rumy Marzook yesterday said steps would be taken to punish errant traders who are cheating the customers by selling sub standard Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

He said that negotiations were going on with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka (SEASL) in that regard.

He said that with the implementation of the crackdown in a month or so, steps would be taken to maintain standards.

SEASL officials said that they would have further discussions with the top management of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on taking tough measures against the importation and sale of sub standard CFLs.

SEASL, Energy Efficiency System Head Chamila Jayasekara told The Island yesterday that all sub standard blubs came through the `back door’.

"We know these products are mushrooming in the local market. But we need more power and assistance of the Consumer Affairs Authority or their direct involvement,to put an end to such products entering the market," he added.

However, he also said that it would take about one month to tackle the problem.

They were at present strictly monitoring whether any manufactures/distributors were trying to misuse the recommended star rating.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the Flying Squad of the SEASL was already on the trail of such low quality products, particularly targeting supermarkets that sell substandard CFL bulbs.

The Island learns that Sri Lanka has been flooded with substandard CFLs from China and India. Often, those bulbs were ones that had been discarded in their respective countries and dumped in Sri Lanka.

The Consumer Protection Act has allowed, through Gazette Notification 1611/10, the sale or stocking of CFL bulbs only if they have the certification label issued by the Power and Energy Ministry.

The CEB, LECO and SEA will take legal action against those involved in the manufacture and distribution of sub-standard CFL bulbs which violate the Consumer Protection Act.

The ministry added that it required the assistance of the public in taking legal action against such violators and any complaints regarding the sale of sub-standard CFL bulbs could be reported via the hotline 1901.

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