Traders Putting Consumers’ Lives at Risk by Repackaging Expired Products, Standards Bureau Warns

By Jenifer James

Traders and manufacturers who repackage expired goods or alter product dates are jeopardizing consumer safety and may face legal repercussions, warns South Sudan’s National Bureau of Standards.

Authorities have expressed concerns over deceptive practices in the country’s marketplace.

In an exclusive interview with The Dawn Newspaper on Wednesday, Majur Mading Makur, Director of Standards Development at the National Bureau of Standards, stated that businesses repackaging products must preserve the original production information instead of introducing misleading dates that could mislead consumers.

Makur emphasized that repackaging products with false production or expiration dates poses serious health risks to consumers.

He stressed the importance of maintaining accurate product information when transferring goods into new packaging.

“If you are doing this, then you are killing your people,” he warned, condemning the deliberate alteration of production dates and other product details.

He explained that when manufacturers repackage items, they should retain the original production information. For example, if a product was manufactured on November 4, 2026, that date should remain on the new packaging; it is unacceptable to change it to November 20, 2026.

Regarding the regulation of alcoholic beverages, Makur noted that the bureau has established standards that manufacturers must adhere to before commencing production.

Companies are required to obtain relevant standards that outline production requirements and proper ingredient usage.

Inspection and verification teams regularly visit manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with these standards.

Concerning expired products in the market, Makur stated that the bureau identifies these goods and alerts the public through the media before arranging for their destruction.

“When we find expired products, we notify the public and the media. During the disposal process, we invite media representatives and relevant stakeholders to witness the destruction,” he explained.

Makur reported progress in the fight against the sale of expired products, attributing improvements to heightened public awareness and enforcement efforts.

Last year, the bureau destroyed 20 metric tonnes of expired products, while this year’s destruction exercise awaits final confirmation of the recovered quantity.

“This year, many people are more aware of the pressure we are applying. Some are attempting to cease these practices, though others may still engage in them, either knowingly or unknowingly,” he said.

He assured the public that they would be informed once the quantity of recovered expired products is confirmed and arrangements for their destruction are complete.