Short Weighing By Traders Hit Low Income Families

[Emil Lazarian]

SHORT WEIGHING BY TRADERS HIT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

ARMENPRESS
Jan 10, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS: Underweight is being widely practiced
by Armenian traders, chairman of a non-governmental organization set
up to protect consumers' rights, said today.

Abgar Yeghoyan, head of Defense of Consumers Right NGO, said this
breach has become commonplace at the local consumer market, affecting
especially low-income segment of the population.

He said the legislation requires that all scales be checked at least
once a year, but according to the National Measurement Institute,
of 25,000 scales used in trade only 6,000 were checked last year. The
fine for an unchecked scale ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 Drams.

Yeghoyan said even electronic scales can under-weigh 200-300 grams in
one kg after their owners reset them. He said hand scales although
prohibited are widely used by street traders and can under-weigh up
to half of the real weight.

"Obviously, this issue is very urgent demanding swift intervention,"
he said, suggesting that the government raise the amount of penalties
for 'cheating scales.' He said verifying scales for consumers should
be installed in all trading outlets.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress