The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Endrit Shala, was on the field to closely observe the implementation of Article 15 of the Law No. 06/L-034 on Consumer Protection, which prohibits the sale of tobacco and alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 18.
Along with the Market Inspectorate, Minister Shala visited a market, thus closely observing the placement of signs indicating that the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors is prohibited.
Due to the lack of full implementation of the Law on Consumer Protection, respectively Article 15, which defines that tobacco and alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be sold to minors under the age of 18, yesterday I issued an order through which I ordered MTI's Market Inspectorate to strictly implement the law. My visit is related to the implementation of this Law at the ''Elkos'' company, which respects this law and I thank and ensure Kosovo citizens that, in cooperation with municipal inspectorates, we will increase the number of inspections for the benefit of consumers'', stated Minister Shala.
In case of failure to implement this law, the Minister warned that there will be fines as provided for by law.
''Sanctions are provided for by law and the inspectorate will be dealing with these details and take these measures, and the law stipulates that when salespersons suspect, they are obliged to sell the product by requesting the identification document'', said Minister Shala.
The Minister said that this inspection will include all points of sale in the entire territory of Kosovo.
''My visit here relates to a warning to all other salespersons to respect the Article and the law as a whole'', said Shala.
Selvete Abazi from "Elkos" said that this decision is welcome and will be fully respected.
