Tonga: Update of Consumer Protection Regulations

 

The Kingdom of Tonga has recently updated its Consumer Protection (Product Safety & Labelling Standards) Regulations.

All products imported to Tonga should meet the General Safety Standard, meaning that they should be:

1. Capable of use for the purpose claimed;
2. Safe, for the intended use and for any reasonable use made;
3. Durable, reliable and offer satisfactory level of utility and suitability in accordance to any applicable standard prescribed by legislation or as construed reasonable by an ordinary person;
4. Designed or manufactured in accordance with international standards.

The following goods shall not be supplied, distributed or traded for consumer consumption:

1. Defective goods
2. Goods that have exceeded its “use by date”, “best before date: or “expiry date”
3. Good with labelling which do not comply with the Product Labelling Standard prescribed in Part II of this Schedule.
4. Goods that have been banned for human consumption in Tonga.

As far as the labelling is concerned, according to the General Labelling Standard:

1. The label of any goods other than the sale of food, gas, electricity, water and communications:
2. a) shall not be described, presented or labelled in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive regarding its character;
3. b) shall not be described or presented by words, pictorial or other devices which refers or suggests directly to any other goods which may be confused with as to lead the consumer to suppose the goods are connected with other goods;
4. c) shall declare the following information:
5. the name and address of the manufacturer;
6. the country of origin;

iii. product use, content, maintenance, storage and disposal where appropriate.

1. relating to possible misuse of the product.
2. advising of any potential harms resulting from use of the product.
3. The information required to appear on the label or labelling pursuant to this Standard, shall be written in the English or Tongan language, and shall be clear, legible and displayed in a visible position on the product.

The regulatory text can be found HERE.

To find out more product compliance and product safety worldwide, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.