The Commission imposed a fine of MK500,000 to Lifestyle for excessively pricing 400 ml 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 Lifestyle Pharmacy in Lilongwe were charging MK10,000 for 400 ml Romeo hand sanitisers whose benchmark price was around MK5,000; representing a 100% margin. The trader was issued an interim cease and desist order, which required them to provide written justification for the price which was suspected to be excessive and an infringement of Section 43(1)(g) of the CFTA.
The trader neither formally responded to the interim cease and desist order nor reduced their prices, as confirmed during a follow up inspection conducted on 20th April 2020.