LABELLING STANDARDS AND YOU

Consumers are persons who purchase, consume or use goods and services. Amongst their eight basic rights, they have the Right to:

• The Satisfaction of Basic Needs

• Safety (Protection from hazardous products and processes)

• Information (the facts to make informed choices)

• Choose

• Consumer Education

• Redress (fair settlement of just claims)

The existence of proper labelling standards helps to safeguard these rights as Consumers purchase and use goods and services to meet their basic needs. We generally make our purchasing decisions based on our individual needs and taste, and this activity requires information provided on the labels of the goods we consume or use. With the wide availability of options, consumers rely heavily on the quality and completeness of the information provided by product labels. This, along with media advertisements and word of mouth, assists consumers in accessing their right to information, which is used to assist in making that final choice of what to purchase and from whom.

The Right to Information dictates that consumers must be provided with all the information needed for them to make an informed choice. Depending a person's needs, they will require different information, which will directly impact on the choice made, especially in matters relating to health and safety. The right to be informed however goes beyond avoiding deception and protection against misleading advertisement, labeling or other practices, to include information about warranties, the proper care and use of products and access to redress (refund, repair, replacement).

The Jamaica Bureau of Standards is the Agency of government within the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology (with Energy), responsible for the development and monitoring of proper labelling standards in Jamaica. Below are the general labelling requirements in place to inform and protect consumers:

• Product Name – Includes brand name and what the product actually is, for example, apple juice.

• Manufactures' Name and Address, Country of Origin - where the product was manufactured, assembled or packaged.

• Ingredients – A list of the inputs in a product

• Net Quantity /Weight - Indicates the amount of the product present in the package.

• Batch Numbers – Batch numbers are important for tracing a particular product,

• Expiry Date – indicates the date after which foods are considered no longer fresh, or safe for consumption or ingestion in the case of medication.

Many vendors may be unaware as to the benefits and requirements for labelling their products. Recognizing this, the Bureau will be conducting a Labelling Seminar focusing on Tobacco Products, Baked Products and Alcoholic beverages at the Bureau's Training Facility Wednesday July 28, 2004. For the next three weeks the Consumer Affairs Commission, CAC, will provide focus on this important consumer issue by dedicating this space to the discussion from the Consumers' perspective, with specific reference to health and safety.

Tell us what issues you want addressed

Send e-mail to: cacjam@infochan.com or star@gleaner.com

Write to us at: 1B Holborn Road, Kingston 10 Or call us at: 926-1650-2 or toll free 1-888-991-4470, ask for our Information Desk