On Friday, November 22, 2013, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Hon Axel M Addy, led a team of Commerce Inspectors to various filing stations to conduct calibration inspections on fuel pumps. 

The exercise started at the Liberia Petroleum filling station on Carey and Lynch Streets.  The team further inspected Aminata Gas Station on Benson Street near the Monoprix Supermarket.

Hon. Addy expressed that the ongoing nationwide inspection of businesses by the Ministry is not intended to punish businesses found in violation of any regulations, but to create awareness about the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s regulations for business entities operating in the country in a bid to ensure compliance.

According to Minister Addy, any business that violates standards and regulation during this inspection exercise will be given 30 days to correct such violation and become compliant.

The Minister noted that those businesses that are found to be in violation during this round of inspection who fail to become compliant in 30 days would be fined by the Ministry.

The Minister clarified that in extreme cases the Ministry will impose fines on business entities for failure to comply after they have been notified about any irregularities.  The Commerce Minister has said that under the “Business Bill of Rights”, business entities have the right to contest fines imposed arising from inspection or appeal against penalties that may be imposed.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be conducting several inspections in the next four months.  Inspection will include:

• Weights and Calibration
• Food Safety
• Industry (Water)
• Warehouse