The executive director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (ProConsumidor), Eddy Alcántara, announced on Monday that they will apply “drastic sanctions“To the business owners who are found to be selling adulterated alcoholic beverages and said that this institution is working actively and firmly to identify these establishments that engage in this illicit and criminal practice.
He explained that since last week they have been carrying out extensive operations in Gran Santo Domingo and inland towns, in which 219 businesses have been inspected ex officio in search of adulterated alcoholic beverages and products unfit for human consumption.
He stated that as a result of these inspections three establishments were closed to be in the same presence of plagues, Among other non-conformities in violation of the law of consumer protection.
Alcántara, who spoke during a press conference with the Deputy Administrative Director of Pro Consumidor, María Teresa Paulí, and the Deputy Technical Director, Raquel Hoepelman, said that once they have the results of these tests “and if it is verified that some of these drinks are counterfeit, we will be drastic with the owners of these establishments, starting with the closure of the business and the submission to justice of these people”.
coordinated work
He stressed in this sense that a coordinated work is being carried out with the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), the Ministry of Public Health and other institutions related to the issue of adulterated beverages, which in the recent days have killed dozens of people.
“It has been agreed that once Pro Consumidor makes the surveys through these inspections, which we will maintain permanently throughout the country, we can have the results of laboratories as quickly as the procedure allows, so as to act immediately against the violators of the regulations, ”the official noted.
He insisted that they will apply the most drastic sanctions allowed by Law 358-05 on the Protection of the Rights of Consumers or Users and its regulations in such cases.
Laws to consider
The director of Pro Consumidor has also cited the violation of General Health Law 42-01, Alcohol Act 243-68, Law 17-19 on the Eradication of Illicit Trade, Smuggling and Counterfeiting of Regulated Products, As well as falsification and poisoning established by the Dominican Penal Code.