Businesses that don't put flags on products will be fined

The decision to set flags to products was taken on December 29th of last year, as Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Shala had signed administrative directives ordering the markets to set flags according to product origin, which began to apply as of January 1st.

In addition to placing flags on products, Kosovo citizens have welcomed it, although some of them declare that they have not seen them through commercial societies.

Names Sheriff for Kosovo Press has said he has seen flags posted on the market and that this offers ease to find local products more easily.

Sheriff: I loved the idea of putting up flags.

I've been investigating the flags, I've seen Kosovo and I'm enjoying it, it's better to invest in Kosovo. ... Better now, who likes to use Kosovo products is easier“, this citizen said.

The Fahri Duraku said he has not seen flags of origin in brands, but that this action helps consumers select more easily than they will consume.

Duraku: Better put the flags on

I don't know what product you're getting, but it's better that you know which product Duraku is coming from.

Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Shala has stressed that the MTI Inspectorate has begun inspections into commercial societies.

He has demanded that businesses start putting flags on products as soon as possible.

Shala: Punishment measures will be taken for those who disobey the law

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The “Law is in force from December 29th of 2018 all commercial societies in the Republic of Kosovo are obliged to respect this law, the assigned article that at each price of the product sold on the Kosovo market on the left side of the price should be set the flag of the product's origin. The law is already in effect as the Minister of Commerce, we are inspecting all commercial societies, we are aware as soon as possible that they don't have them to decide, and very soon the Ministry of Trade and Industry, its Inspectorate and other municipal inspectors will continue with the pronunciation of the punishment measures that are defined by the law on consumer protection... otherwise the prior punishment measures for protection of the consumer law will be taken against any commercial society that does not comply with the article<1...

The first of Kosovo's trade and industry has pledged that depending on the measure, which the Inspectorate sees as a violation, commercial societies will also be punished.

Nora Jusuf from the GAP Institute has praised the setting of flags to marketing products as a good initiative that protects the consumer and facilitates his selection of products he wants to consume.

According to her, indirect fraud against the consumer is also interrupted through this action.

Yusuf: Flaging Helps Consumer

Any additional information provided by manufacturers is very helpful in their decision making. Even this direction is made under the net for labeling, according to that article which envisions the setting of flags, but generally besides setting flags, the rest of the products have local and foreign products that offer information about how that product was produced, and then also about nourishing values, but most do not provide this information.... There are producers who are putting in foreign names of their products are advertising them that way, and maybe prices are placing them as if they're competitive with the quality of some who have more development in some way is some kind of indirect consumer fraud, so that way with the standards set up improves part of the purchase decision-making”, he added.

Jusuf considers that fines against violators should be proportional to failing to implement administrative direction for placing flags.

We remember that the flag deployment decision came shortly after the Kosovo Government imposed 100% tax on products from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in response to a fierce diplomatic campaign by Serbia against Kosovo app in Interpol and Bosnia's stand on Belgrade politics