IKEA, FamilyMart among latest market offenders

Shanghai's market watchdog publicized a number of recent administrative penalties on its website, many of them involving big name brands such as IKEA, FamilyMart and RT-Mart.

IKEA China was fined 79,546.55 yuan (US$11,342) and had 15,425 yuan of illegal profits confiscated by the market watchdog in the Pudong New Area.

Some children's desks and chairs sold by IKEA China's branch in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province did not mark the applicable ages of users, and warning labels were also missing. This is against China's technical standards for children's furniture, according to the Pudong New Area Administration for Market Regulation.

Nearly 1,600 pieces of such furniture had been sold, each at 248.89 yuan, according to the administration.

The Pingxingguan Road outlet of FamilyMart was fined by the Jing'an District Administration for Market Regulation for failing to display the prices of three brands of beverages to consumers, which is against China's price regulations.

It was ordered to rectify the matter by the administration.

In another case, the Songjiang outlet of Metro was fined 50,000 yuan by the Songjiang District Administration for Market Regulation.

Bullfrog sold by the outlet failed for containing the antibiotic AOZ, which is banned for use in food as it can lead to hemolytic anemia, polyneuritis, acute hepatic necrosis and eye damage.

The Yangpu branch of RT-Mart was fined 50,000 yuan by the district market watchdog for selling seaweed with excessive bacterial colonies.

Sheraton Shanghai Chongming Hotel was fined 10,000 yuan after a vegetable salad it processed failed tests for excessive bacterial colonies and escherichia coli in July, according to the Chongming District Administration for Market Regulation.