Africa-Press – Angola. The National Authority for Economic Inspection and Food Safety (ANIESA) has in recent days intensified inspection actions in Cuanza Norte province, to assess legality and put an end to price speculation for basic basket products.
In a first phase, ANIESA, in collaboration with Commerce, the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), the National Institute for Consumer Defense (INADEC) and the Police, is working to raise the awareness of traders to price control.
In routine actions, the institution works with six brigades, with five to six technicians each, but for situations of the kind it works with only one with 18 elements from various departments, such as health, commerce, security and criminal investigation.
Thursday, the head of ANIESA in Cuanza Norte, Fernando Humberto Mesquita, informed that many traders are taking advantage of the devaluation of the Kwanza to speculate on the price of products.
Many economic agents, he clarified, justify the change in prices with the lack of stock in the supplier warehouses.
According to Fernando Mesquita, this justification distorts commercial legislation due to the fact that current prices do not align with the purchase and sale invoice.
“More speculation is seen in frozen products, such as fish, chicken, meat and derivatives, due to the scarcity of these products in the province”, he said.
In addition to speculation, Humberto Mesquita pointed out the lack of documentation, transparency in invoices for the purchase and sale of products, as well as the disorganization of commercial establishments, as the biggest irregularities found.
Infractions also include failure to set prices on shelves, lack of health bulletins for employees, advertising and hygiene licenses.
This situation, he emphasized, is creating many difficulties for families.
He informed that the inspection actions will continue and, in a second phase, aim to sanction non-compliant agents with fines.
ANIESA, in the province of Cuanza Norte, has 40 inspectors who carry out their activities in the municipalities of Cazengo, seat of the province, Cambambe, Ambaca and Samba Cajú.
In other municipalities, the inspection of economic activities is carried out by technicians from the municipal inspection offices.
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