The Executive Director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (ProConsumidor), Eddy Alcántara, announced on Monday that they will submit an application “drastic sanctions” to the entrepreneurs proven to sell counterfeit alcoholic beverages and said that this institution is actively and vigorously working to identify those institutions engaged in this illegal and criminal practice.
He explained that since last week they have conducted extensive operations in Greater Santo Domingo and inland cities where 219 companies have been officially inspected for counterfeit alcoholic beverages and products that are not fit for human consumption.
He stated that in response to these inspections Three companies were closed because they were in the same presence of pests, in addition to other non-conformities in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.
Alcántara, speaking at a press conference with Pro Consumidor’s assistant administrative director, María Teresa Paulino, and assistant technical director, Raquel Hoepelman, said that once they have the results of those tests, they have been faked, we are going to deal drastically with the owners of these establishments, starting with the closure of the business and the submission of these people to justice
Coordinated work
In this sense, he stressed that there is coordinated work with the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), the Ministry of Health and other institutions dealing with the issue of counterfeit drinks, which have caused the death of dozens of people in recent days. .
“It has been agreed that once Pro Consumidor carries out the investigations through the intended inspections, which we will maintain on a permanent basis throughout the national territory, we will be able to have the results of laboratories at the speed the procedure allows, to take immediate action against the offenders. of the regulations, ”the officer said.
He insisted that in those cases they would apply the most drastic sanctions allowed by Law 358-05 on the protection of consumer or user rights and related regulations.
Laws to Consider
The director of Pro Consumidor also cited violation of General Health Law 42-01, Alcohol Law 243-68 Law 17-19 on the Elimination of Illicit Trade, Smuggling and Counterfeiting of Regulated Products, as well as forgery and poisoning established by the Dominican Penal Code.