MARGAO: Department of Legal Metrology and Food and Drugs Administration officials along with a NGO raided kiosks at the KTC bus stand, Margao and seized packets of eatables, not conforming to the rules, informed officials on Monday.

Three hundred and forty two packets of eatables were seized by the inspector of the Department of Legal Metrology, Salcete taluka, Mr G A Gulburg. Food inspector, Mr Korde also seized some 314 items from all the 6 shops.

"We have booked 6 shops under the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977," Mr N M Naik of the Department of Legal Metrology told media.

Mr Naik said that they would have to comply with the rules or the goods would be destroyed and added that his department people had warned the shopkeepers.

According to officials, these raids were conducted in view of the rainy season coming up so a check had to be kept on the goods that were
being sold.

Officials informed that packaged commodities are inspected to see whether mandatory declarations are complied with.

The mandatory declarations are: complete name and address of the manufacturer or packer or importer; month and year of packing or import, common or generic name of the commodity, net contents and the sale price of the package (maximum retail price, inclusive of all taxes). Under the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules no dealer or wholesaler or purchaser can sell any item for a price more than the MRP mentioned in the packaged commodity. In case of any violation, the person can be prosecuted in
the Court.

For charging more than the MRP or weighing less than the required weight or measuring less than the required volume or using tampered measures or using unstamped weights and measures, any NGO or any person can also file a complaint in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 63 of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement)
Act, 1985.