The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has recently conducted inspections in some of the country’s major phone shops.
This is in relation to a product recall on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 by Samsung.
ICCC noted that management of the shops visited were notified by their supplier of the recall.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recalled due to overheating of the battery cell.
The overheating is related to a manufacturing fault, posing a potential fire/burn hazard to its users.
In Papua New Guinea, the ICCC conducted inspections in some of the major phone shops to identify shops selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
The inspection was also to establish whether retailers and suppliers of the product are aware of the product recall and to confirm the steps taken by retailers to manage the recall and concerns of consumers that may be affected.
At the stores visited by ICCC inspectors, it was noted that Samsung formally advised its distributors on 3rd September of its decision to voluntarily replace all Galaxy Note7 products sold to customers.
Management of shops visited have since removed the Galaxy Note7 off their shelves and have liaised with the supplier for refund and replacement phones.
One shop that sold 3 defective Samsung Galaxy Note7 phones prior to the product being recalled, has offered each of its customers a temporary replacement Samsung J5 smartphone; pending replacement by their supplier.
The consumer watchdog has advised the public to report any business houses selling the affected phone using the toll free number 180-3333.
