In June 2026, the Commission launched investigations against SANAM Enterprises for the supply of products likely to cause injury or harm to consumers, insufficient labelling of products; and non-disclosure of material information. The investigations were instituted following findings of inspections.
The Commission noted that the Commission received information indicating that SANAM Supermarket located at Area 49, Lilongwe was selling expired products. On 18th June 2026, the Commission conducted an inspection at the said shop where it was found that the shop was stocking expired products and insufficiently or improperly labelled products.
The Commission’s inspectors found a total of 11 individual products, but also 10 packs of six products that’s totaling 40 products and 1 pack of 4 products. These products expired between the dates of 14th May 2026 and 14th June 2026. The Commission also observed that the expired products were milk related food products including yoghurts.
These conducts appeared to be a contravention under section 51(e), (m) and (p) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act.
The Respondents were apologetic for the occurrence and that it was not intentional. They stated that they have taken precautionary measures.
Having considered the matter, the Commission found that the conduct by the Respondent put at risk the safety of many unsuspecting consumers that likely purchased and consumed the products, thus the conduct by the Respondent amounts to supply of products likely to cause injury or harm to consumers and hence in contravention of section 51 (e) of the CFTA.
The Commission also found that the Respondent was supplying products which had unclear expiry dates. This conduct deprived consumers of critical information so as to ascertain whether the subject products were within their shelf life or had expired, thus the conduct by the Respondent amounts to failure to disclose material information to consumers, and hence in contravention of Section 51 (p) of the CFTA.
However, the Commission found that the Respondent did not engage in insufficient or improper labelling of products considering the labelling of the subject products is done by the manufacturer and not the trader, therefore, the Respondent was not in contravention of section 51 (m) of the CFTA.
The Commission also took into consideration that the respondents were apologetic and cooperated throughout investigations.
Following deliberations, the Commission ordered that the Respondent should pay a monetary penalty of One Million Kwacha (MK1,000,000.00) for engaging in supply of products likely to cause injury or harm to consumers and failure to disclose material information.