The Consumer Council (CC) said in a statement released on Wednesday that the number of retail outlets entitled to the “Certified Shop” emblem as part of the “Certified Shop Accreditation Project”, will be over 1,400 by the end of this year, indicating an “improved shopping environment and quality of businesses” in Macau.
According to information on the CC’s website, the “Certified Shop Accreditation Project” was launched by the council in 2001 to award both physical and online stores that excel in their business practices, with the aim of providing consumers with a guarantee of quality when shopping. All “certified shops” must abide by the “Regulations of Certified Shops”, comply with the corresponding “Code of Practice” (divided into 18 categories according to industry”), and be subject to supervision of the council.
In the statement, the council said that this year, it has conducted about 2,700 inspections on local merchants’ product and service quality, and held nearly 240 training seminars for business owners. It added that it has cooperated with multiple local associations and chambers to promote this quality initiative programme to the public as well as tourists, through a series of online entertainment activities and prize draws.
Applications for 2024 ‘Best Certified Shop’ and ‘Excellent Certified Shop’ Awards now open
The statement also noted that in the “Best Certified Shop and Excellent Certified Shop Awards Ceremony” held by the council on December 15, where 20 “Certified Shops” received awards as the city’s “best” retail outlets and 135 merchants were given merit prizes, had achieved the promotional effect of encouraging more retail business owners to adhere to the “Certified Shop” scheme and therefore enhance their overall quality of service.
Meanwhile, the application period for the 2024 awards hasSh already started and will end on January 15, the statement added. Shops bearing the “Adherents” or “Certified Shops” title on or before December 31 are eligible to apply.
This undated photo provided by the Consumer Council (CC) shows one of its staff members introducing the “Certified Shop” scheme to residents during a street promotion activity.
