By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Aug. 25: Authorities have suggested consumers to be cautious as a couple of businesses involved in bringing expired and substandard goods by relabeling the tags and descriptions to the market have been busted in recent days.

A joint team from the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Metropolitan Crime Division, on Tuesday, raided Balaju-based Agad Nepal Venture Private Limited.

They seized different food products, most expired, which were being relabeled to be taken to the market.  Biscuits of companies like Digestive, Crunchy, Coconut Cookies,       Butter Cookies, and Free-kick alongside pasta, macaroni, and cornflakes were found in the company’s godown.

After the confiscation, authorities arrested Subash Khadka, 31, supervisor of the company. However, owner of the business Prabhat Dev is said to be in the run.

“A digital machine used for relabeling goods and a chemical used to erase the original labelling was found in the place. The company and its’ store has been sealed and Khadka has been handed over to the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection for further legal process,” read a statement by the Metropolitan Crime Division.

Officials at the department informed that they are yet to give the final quantity of the seized goods.

“We were not informed by anyone regarding the illegal business of relabeling goods operating in Balaju. We are working to end such businesses hence we have been inspecting different goods and companies,” said Shivaraj Sedhai, spokesperson for the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection.

The descriptions regarding ingredients in the goods seized from Balaju were also tampered and the price was also increased through relabeling.

Sedhai further added that consumers need to be cautious while buying goods from the market. “If a consumer has suspicion about the bought goods or is aware of the ones relabeling goods, s/he can reach out to a concerned authority.”

Earlier on August 1, the Crime Division had seized expired cosmetic and daily-use items like body spray, air freshener, and shampoo, among others, from a house in Ward 15 of Kathmandu Metropolis. Abinash Agrawal, 31, and Mahabir Gajur, 41, were arrested with seized items worth over Rs. 20 million. Around Rs. 10 million worth of products, which were already relabelled, were ready to be taken to the market.

The authorities have also busted similar rackets which relabelled goods like snickers, sold prohibited products like Red Bull, and manufactured substandard sanitisers amidst the pandemic.

Officials informed that someone who suffered the effects of substandard and expired products can pursue legal path for compensation.

“If an individual is affected by such products, s/he can file a case against the accused in the district court, as we don’t have a consumer court. The court will then pave the way for the individual to receive compensation,” said Sedhai.

Nevertheless, officials requested the public to be aware of what they are buying.