Deputy Minister warns traders against selling illegally imported goods

Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe has urged traders not to accept goods that have been smuggled into the country, imported without paying taxes, or brought in using undervalued invoices. He stated that authorities have begun 'backward audits' to trace these products through retailers, suppliers, and importers to verify if Customs duties were paid and if the goods were undervalued. Abeysinghe advised traders to obtain clear invoices with manufacturer or importer details for every product purchased for resale. He also noted that complaints about unusually low-priced imported goods, including suspected dumping, can be lodged with the Ministry of Industry. Additionally, he clarified that there is no legally recognized document called an 'on approval' bill and described its use as unlawful. His remarks followed recent actions by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), which seized goods worth nearly Rs. 1.5 million during raids targeting imported cosmetics and footwear across the country. The operation, conducted on Aug. 18 and 19, found that 84 inspected businesses lacked proper receipts, bills, or invoices proving the legal acquisition of the goods, including skin-lightening creams, facial and body cosmetics, perfumes, hair-care products, and sports shoes.