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DPH counsel urges consumer vigilance
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Posted on Feb 12 1999
The legal counsel for the Department of Public Health has urged the public to become militant consumer advocates by complaining to the authorities and store owners the sale of expired foods on the island.
Assistant Attorney General Celeste Andersen said all consumer complaints must be directed to the Office of the Attorney General which is tasked to enforce the Consumer Protection Act.
Health authorities have received reports of continuous sale of expired goods in various stores and supermarkets. Although there has been no serious illness traced to the sale of these goods, consumers have expressed apprehension on its effect to the people’s health.
When one accidentally buys an expired food, Andersen said the consumer must immediately call the attention of the store manager. It is possible that the store owners are not aware that they are already violating the Consumer Protection Act by selling these expired goods.
“It is the most practical solution for all of us. It takes so much time to study complaints concerning certain types of issues such as the tobacco settlement case,” she said since filing a complaint will take time before it is resolved.
The CNMI is set to receive a $15.8 million share in the multi billion tobacco settlement agreement with the leading cigarette makers. However, the CNMI must first file a case in the CNMI court before it can receive the amount.
Unfortunately, the Office of the Attorney General is understaffed to handle various issues concerning consumer protection. CNMI Consumer counsel Diane McDevitt has recently resigned from her post and left the island.
Among the consumer’s issues which have been brought to the attention of the Attorney General’s Office include the sale of defective vehicles, consumer credit cards, importation sub standard vehicles and fake fund raising campaigns.
