Watchdog lists latest consumer rights offenses

Nippon Paint China has been fined by consumer market regulators in the Pudong New Area for violation of China's online shopping refund rules.

The company was fined 30,000 yuan (US$4,267) after it refused the refund request of a consumer who ordered paints on the company's shop on JD.com without first notifying the consumer that the products were not applicable to a seven-day unconditional return policy, according to the Pudong New Area Administration for Market Regulation.

The penalty was made based on China's consumer rights protection law, according to the administration.

Meanwhile, Sa Sa Cosmetics was fined 150,000 yuan by the Huangpu District market watchdog for violating China's advertisement law.

The company was found making medical claims, such as diminishing inflammation and reducing scars, in advertisements for two cosmetics products on its WeChat account.

The two products are neither medicine nor medical devices, and China's advertisement law bans the use of medical claims in advertisements except for drugs and medical equipment, according to the administration.

The company has rectified the promotional content of the two products, the administration said.

The Huaihai Road M. No. 2 outlet of Hong Kong-style chain restaurant Chalisi was given a warning by the Xuhui District food watchdog after officials found the kitchen to be unhygienic during an inspection.

The restaurant failed hygiene standards for a food preparation and sales venue, the administration said.

A branch of Freshippo in Jing'an District was fined 60,000 yuan by local market regulators for selling wine without a retail license of wine products.

It started wine sales in May this year, yet it only received the license in July, administrators said.

In addition, some of its wine failed tests for substandard labeling, according to authorities. The branch's illegal gains have been confiscated.

The Huacao branch of Century Mart was fined 50,000 yuan by the Minhang District Administration for Market Regulation after fish sold by the supermarket failed quality tests in July for containing excessive enrofloxacin residue and traces of antibiotic drug ciprofloxacin.

The amount of residue was more than double the national limit, according to the administration. Unsold fish were destroyed on site.

Excessive exposure to enrofloxacin can lead to gastrointestinal reaction, officials said.