JEWELLERY stores must ensure that the jewellery weighing process is carried out under the supervision of the consumer and not in a secluded back room.
This is a call from the consumer watchdog for all jewellery stores retailing gold or any other precious metals to be more transparent and responsible while doing business.
In a statement, Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar says they need to also ensure that their weighing machines are properly calibrated and certified by the Department of National Trade Measurement and Standard.
A complaints-driven snap survey conducted by the council covering 16 jewellery stores in the Central, Northern and Western divisions found that weighing machines in all 16 stores surveyed did not have valid weighing stickers on their machines to indicate that they were calibrated by the Department of National Trade Measurement and Standard.
Section 27 (1) of the National And Trade Measurement Decree 1989 states that every measuring instrument used for trade should be produced to an inspector for inspection at least once every 12 months or before it is used. Section 28 of the decree establishes that it is an offence if traders do not comply with this provision.
The council is warning all traders to have their weighing machines certified immediately. The council has also informed the Department of National Trade Measurement and Standard of the findings of the survey for their necessary action.
“We now expect the weights and measures officials to check all weighing machines used by the jewellery stores in order to protect consumers and to ensure weighing scales meet the standard,” Ms Kumar said.
“The calibration of the weighing machines is necessary to ensure that these machines provide accurate weight of the gold.
“This is also to avoid traders tampering with the weighing machine and this can result in more profits through manipulative means.”
Consumers are also advised to be cautious on their next visit to jewellery stores to check for the Department of National Trade Measurement and Standard’s stamp (in the form of a sticker) that should be placed on the face of the scale before they agree to have their jewellery weighed.
