Huge controversy over prices and quality is going on among consumer protection societies and traders, aspiring for quick profits under currently prevailing capitalism across the globe. States tend take middle position so that neither consumers nor traders lose. They pass flexible laws to maintain mutual relationship between the consumer and traders. However, when we see businesspersons threaten public interest we have to take sides with citizens who reserve the right to accept or refuse commodities or services. Sudan Vision has met with the secretary –general of Sudanese Consumer Protection society, Dr. Yassir Merghani to further get information on the work of the society and difficulties it is faced with. 

 

Q: How the consumer protection society was formed, who are its key members?

A: It was founded in 1971 by environment activists, notably Dr. Abdulgadir Mohamed Abdulgadir. The executive office was formed in 1998. Atahir Bakri was the first chairman. Membership was made up of environment activists. 

Q: Do have laws and legislations governing the work of the society?

A: So far, we don’t have any detailed law on protecting the consumer. Most of the laws are scattered between environment protections and monitoring on pharmaceutical nutrition and random grazing. We seek with Khartoum to pass a law on consumer protection, including monitoring mechanisms and coordination of roles. We want all states to follow suit. The organization seeks special law for consumer protections as is the case with other laws. 

Q: How could there be cooperation between you and quality and standards and customs?

A: There should be a monitoring body and a reference law called “consumer law to monitor pharmaceutical food and drugs and unlawful grazing to manage the operations instead of the quality and standards and customs. There is cooperation but limited. There conflict in powers, which need to be separated so that the monitoring role of the society becomes clear. There urgent need for coordinating roles between the society on one hand, and the quality, standards and customs, on the other, by forming a unified body to carry out the mission. 

Q: Do have representation to endorse or refuse new commodities and services?

A: Some parties invite us to participate in the assessment of commodities and services. Others don’t notify us and oppose our involvement. We represent the citizen, first receiver of these services and commodities. We are not a government body. Such rejection is unlawful because the world today cares a lot about involving citizens to express their opinions. In many countries, consumer protection constitutes a strong support for citizens in face of rise in prices and poor quality services and commodities asking the state to take measures to ensure the rights of the citizens. We in Sudan, call on the government to pass laws protecting consumers to maintain the rights of the citizens against institutions and companies attempting to violate consumer rights. The issue of sugar confiscated in Port Sudan is a live example for ignoring the consumer rights by these institutions. Examinations conducted on the sugar show that the disputed sugar does satisfy to quality and standards. Therefore, the society is completely against allowing the entry of it, although some parties are trying hard to let the sugar in by issuing standards from laboratories working in their favor. Therefore we call on the state to license one laboratory to operate as a reference for all quality and standards across the board. We also call for the attachment of the consumer attorney general to Presidency, to by the sole authority to determine the term of judges and relocation of personnel.  

Q: Is there any response by some parties to adopting the visions of the society?

A: There has been a response by Khartoum Legislative Council to issue a provincial law on consumer protection. Ninety per cent of the law has been approved pending final endorsement soon. We also have follow-up offices in Halfaya, Arkawit and Al-Eilafun, as well as free of charge number (8044) for information and inquiries provided by Zain Telecom Company and Thabit. We are working for connecting the line to all networks. In South Kordufan, the governor Ahmed Haroun is exerting appreciative efforts for us to open an office there as many commodities find their way into the state through organizations. 

Q: How do you look at a mechanism innovated by Khartoum state to bring prices down?  

A: This mechanism will not help reduce prices because liberalization policy doesn’t mean chaos. If the government is willing to alleviate burden on citizens, it should specify prices. The solution lies in the return of cooperative societies experienced in distribution of commodities because they are located in neighborhoods and thus will be familiar with all the residents of the hood, and that assistants should not look for profits but to serve the residents of the neighborhoods.

Q: What advantages were gained from beef boycott?

A: Various meetings were held to determine the reasons for rise in meat prices prior to the boycott. There were indications that the reasons were made and unreal. We intended to draw the authorities’ attention to care about this important sector, which helps fill the gab after loss of oil revenues. We would like to ensure that the authority is with consumers not vendors. This experiment is tested in various countries around the world. We urge the government to pass laws obliging traders to present price tags to open the door for competition and supply commodities at different prices. The only solution to increasing living conditions lies in price tags applied worldwide. 

Q: How do view agriculture in greenhouses?

A: Many studies have shown that vegetable produced by way of such agriculture contain long term chemicals resulting from agricultural pesticides, so there must be measures for specifying pesticides used. The society will work with concerned authorities to reconcile the situation of these greenhouses so that they operate in a proper fashion.  

Q: Are there any complaints by the citizens about presence of telecommunication towers on top of houses in the neighborhoods? Are you dealing with such complaints? 

A: The National Telecommunication Authority has so far failed to prove whether these towers are harmful to citizens or cause cancer. According to standards towers should be erected 6 meters away from houses, which have not been applied in various residential areas up to the moment. The citizens have to claim their rights. There are case filed in the name of the society against telecommunication companies, but the consumer attorney has not passed any judgment in this connection. 

Q: What is your role in preventing proliferation of drugs that does not satisfy quality standards?

A: There is widespread of various fake drugs due to international unethical marketing. It is an international problem. Some companies bribe doctors so that they prescribe certain medication in their names. Such a behavior is unethical. The government should intervene to protect citizens because the practice is against medical ethics. The doctor should solely right the scientific name. There is a difference between drugs producing countries and contents of the drugs. What is happening in Sudan is drugs are being turned into business not medical service. Most of drugs are fake, especially cosmetics due to growing demand. 

Q: Do have plans for raising awareness about the work of your society?

A: We will have a huge work in Khartoum, Kassala and the Red Sea in the coming days aimed at citizens and students. We have a work plan with the ministry of education to introduce consumer protection culture in child education. The media has promote these values inform the community on their rights. The society is now spreading. So far, we have 9 branches in states. 

Q: How do look at expected increase in fuel and telecommunication prices?

A: We are against such increase. We will hold meetings with officials at the National Telecommunication Authority as well as operator companies to explain to them our opinion regarding increasing the prices. If things got worse, we will boycott it. We also reject electricity and water bills. As for fuel, we have been assured by the members of the Parliament that fuel prices would not go up because benzene is connected with transportation and that if its prices go up that will automatically lead to increase in commodities prices.   

Q: What are your future programs and plans? 

A: We are looking forward to having more than one million members to carry out an adequate monitoring in favor of consumers to ensure their rights as the case abroad. We are working for the return of old education ladder (4 primary grades, 4 general grades and 4 high secondary grades) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.         

By Ibrahim Al-jack