The Commission imposed a fine of MK750,000 to the respondent for excessively pricing 400ml Romeo hand sanitisers and also made an order to issue a warning to the respondent for failure to furnish the Commission with information as required.
An inspection conducted on 21st March 2020 by the CFTC Secretariat showed that City Pharmacy located at City Mall in Lilongwe were charging MK12,000 for 400ml Romeo hand sanitisers whose benchmark price was around MK5,000; representing an estimated margin of 140%. The trader was issued an interim cease and desist order, which required them to provide a written justification for the price which was suspected to be excessive and an infringement of Section 43(1)(g) of the CFTA.
City Pharmacy neither formally responded to the interim cease and desist order nor reduced their prices, as confirmed during a follow up inspection conducted on 16th April 2020.