The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has seized 1,140 PVC water pipes and fittings allegedly offered for sale without the mandatory Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certification mark during 87 raids conducted across 20 districts.The special raids were carried out on October 13 and 14, targeting retail shops, wholesale outlets and distribution establishments selling PVC pipes and fittings.

The CAA also found that 65 of the 87 establishments inspected did not have purchase invoices for the relevant products.The authority is conducting further investigations to determine how the products entered the market and identify the manufacturers, importers, suppliers and distributors involved.Under Direction No. 25 of Extraordinary Gazette No. 1566/1, issued on September 8, 2008, under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003, certain categories of PVC pipes and fittings are required to carry the SLS certification mark.The SLS 147 standard applies to rigid PVC pipes used for cold potable water supply, while SLS 659 applies to the relevant joints and fittings used with such pipes.The Sri Lanka Standards Institution has also included the relevant locally manufactured product categories in its list of products subject to mandatory SLS certification.

The CAA has stressed that a verbal assurance from a manufacturer or trader that a product meets the required standards is not sufficient when certification is mandatory under the law.The authority has advised consumers to check the SLS certification mark, manufacturer details, pipe dimensions, pressure rating and suitability for the intended purpose when purchasing PVC pipes and fittings, particularly those used for drinking water supplies.Consumers have also been urged to obtain and retain purchase receipts.Meanwhile, traders have been warned against selling products covered by mandatory certification requirements without the prescribed SLS mark. They have also been advised to maintain purchase invoices and supply records.The CAA said further investigations would be conducted and legal action initiated before the relevant Magistrate’s Courts against traders where sufficient evidence is available.Manufacturers, importers and distributors linked to the products will also be identified, with further legal action to be considered based on the evidence gathered.

The public can report suspected violations involving the sale of PVC pipes and fittings without the mandatory SLS mark by contacting the CAA on its hotline, 1977, during office hours.