In the previous article, we talked about launching an initiative to monitor food in stores, supermarkets and markets with the involvement of young people in this activity.
After conducting a training event for the volunteers of the network “We are for safe food!” and improving their practical skills in identifying low-quality food or products that do not meet the requirements of the legislation, the network began monitoring stores, supermarkets and markets of the capital. In particular, the first monitoring was carried out on June 1, 2021, according to which volunteers monitored 9 retail outlets in the city of Dushanbe, including 5 supermarkets, 3 grocery stores and 1 capital market.
A purchase control of goods that do not meet the requirements of the legislation was carried out. As a result of the purchase of low-quality goods, for a more thorough inspection, the Consumers Union of Tajikistan handed them over to the Tajikstandart Agency. In total, were identified 26 violations that are related to the sale of expired food products, products that do not have the appropriate labeling, products without any information on packages, or with information in a foreign language (according to the legislation, the information must be in Tajik or Russian), violation of the storage conditions of perishable goods, and so on. According to the results of the inspection by the specialists of the Tajikstandart Agency, were initiated administrative cases against the violators, after which, each of them was fined from 400 to 700 somoni. Explanatory work was also carried out with entrepreneurs, during which entrepreneurs expressed that they regretted what they had done and would no longer accept such products from suppliers and put them on the shelves of their outlets.
The network of volunteers “We are for safe food!” continues its activities and plans to conduct regular monitoring in other outlets of the city, the results of which will also be presented to the readers of the site www.istemol.tj