The Consumer Affairs Authority has warned traders that they must keep proper documents or invoices establishing the source of any goods they hold for sale, storage or distribution, and that stock without such paperwork can be seized.
The requirement is not new. It has been in force since April 27, 2022 under Order No. 83 issued by the Authority, and covers manufacturers, warehouse operators, suppliers, distributors and traders of every size. The Authority’s latest notice restates the obligation and signals that it will be checked during routine enforcement.
What the paperwork must show
According to the CAA, an invoice must carry the supplier’s name and address, the date of purchase, the purchase price, the type and quantity of goods, and the batch number where one applies.
Businesses that cannot establish where goods in their possession were bought could face serious consequences, the Authority said. It described the issue as particularly significant for imported goods, where missing invoices make a supply chain difficult to trace back to its origin.
Enforcement
CAA officials will check whether traders hold the required documentation during market inspections and raids. Goods found in violation of the requirements may be seized and produced before court, with legal action taken against those responsible.
The Authority said the purpose of the rules is to protect legitimate businesses that keep proper records, while preventing goods from reaching the market through undocumented and untraceable supply chains.
The notice follows a run of CAA enforcement activity this year against traders over pricing, labelling and product standards, including raids on supermarkets over imported goods labelling and action over expired stock at private facilities.
