The management of Coca Cola Company has been called upon to respect Nigerian laws by complying with the directives of the Consumers Protection Council, CPC.
This call was made by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) in a letter he w rote to the company and addressed to its chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Muktar Kent, calling on the company to respect international standards in Nigeria.
Part of the letter reads: “I am writing to express my serious concern about the failure of Coca-Cola Company to respect international standards in its manufacturing process and the refusal to allow or subject this process to inspection by appropriate authorities, in particular, the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC).
“This failure and refusal to effectively comply with Nigerian laws and regulations is selective on the part of your company because I am fully aware that Coca-Cola will not breach international standards in its operations in the US or UK without serious consequences and punishment by the appropriate authorities in those countries.
“The following questions are pertinent: Why would the Coca-Cola Company expect not to be held responsible in Nigeria when its products contain rusty bottle crown corks, rusty cans and foreign particles? Are the health conditions of Nigerians less important?
“Why would Coca-Cola Company refuse to establish a Shelf Life Policy for their products in the country which clearly would help to facilitate the removal of expired products from the market?
“I contend that the double standard clearly being exhibited by Coca-Cola is not only unethical but also inconsistent with international standards such as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework. The Guiding Principles were endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011.”
He counselled Coca-Cola Company to ensure consistency in its practice and operations whether in developed countries like the US and the UK or developing countries like Nigeria.
According to Falana, Coca-Cola should display a greater level of responsibility by making sure that its products are not harmful to Nigerian consumers and to allow the CPC and other authorities to carry out their mandates in cases where Coca-Cola Company operations or services are found to be directly or indirectly injurious to the health of Nigerians. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Thank you mr. Falana for your concern/observation. coca-cola has for long been proving to be above nigeria law, take a look @ their sales trucks, they ought to be off the road, but no vio or frsc official dear them.
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