Inspection and Enforcement
Inspection and Enforcement includes monitoring and promoting compliance with legislative provisions, regulations and standards as well as undertaking enforcement actions that are key components in preventing non-compliance and verifying that regulatory requirements are being effectively and efficiently applied.
According to the Standards Act (Cap. 130) and its regulations, the enforcement actions may include cancelling or suspending licenses or market authorizations of the certified or registered products, preventing the sale, advertisement or manufacture of non-compliant products, seizure, detention and forfeiture of products. Other actions include imposing financial penalties, pursuing voluntary recalls or other measures intended to bring a product, activity or process into compliance, issuing of warning letters, orders for recalls or stop sales or recommending prosecution.
Specifically, the activities performed under Inspection and Enforcement include the following;
i) Market surveillance, routine, pre-license and pre-registration inspection of products and premises;
ii) Monitor adherence to law, regulations and standards and take appropriate actions;
iii) Regular sampling of products for laboratory analysis and verifying compliance with requirements;
iv) Interpret and disseminate laboratory findings related to market surveillance;
v) Provide advice on certification schemes, regulation and procedures;
vi) Recall and dispose of substandard and unfit products; and
vii) Develop, update and review of guidelines, procedures, plans and manuals for inspection and enforcement activities.
