Two businesses have been fined a combined Rs. 110,000 after being caught distributing imported baby diapers that carried none of the mandatory details identifying the registered importer.

The Consumer Affairs Authority acted on complaints about the quality of imported diapers, including reports of products tearing and deteriorating during use, the Daily Mirror reported.

As part of an island-wide raid programme, CAA officers inspected premises in Dehiwala and Dematagoda and found imported diapers being distributed without the required name, address, telephone number or website of the registered importer — a breach of Order No. 85.

Stocks were seized and produced as case material before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The penalties

Both cases were heard on September 23 and both defendants pleaded guilty:

The court did not explain the tenfold difference between the two fines, and the report gives no indication of the size of either seized stock.

Why importer details matter

The labelling requirement exists so that a traceable party can be held responsible when a product fails. Without an importer’s name and address on the pack, a consumer whose complaint concerns a torn or degraded diaper has no one to pursue and the regulator has no route back up the supply chain.

The CAA urged consumers to check importer details and the maximum retail price on packaging before buying diapers or any other product that touches a baby’s skin directly, and warned traders and distributors to ensure imported goods meet mandatory labelling rules.

Complaints about market irregularities can be made to the CAA on 1977 during office hours.

The action continues a run of enforcement sweeps by the Authority this year, including raids on unregistered medicines, helmets lacking SLS certification and vehicle spare parts.

The Daily Mirror is the only verified newsroom to have filed on these two cases.

Sources