Cement makers told to print expiry dates

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued a policy note under Section 29 of the Competition Act, 2010 to the Ministry of Science and Technology and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). The policy note recommends them to amend the Pakistan Standard Specification for all five types of cement and make it mandatory for manufacturers to disclose the “manufacturing/packaging and expiry/best before” dates on their cement bags. The CCP observed that cement is inherently hygroscopic and begins to significantly lose its strength after four to six weeks of storage in bags in normal conditions and considerably sooner under adverse weather conditions or high humidity. The CCP, therefore, noted with great concern that the cement manufacturers do not voluntarily print the manufacturing, packaging, expiry and best before dates on their cement bags.