This year, over 1,100 businesses are entitled to the 2015 ‘Certified Shop’ emblem and 14 ‘Certified Shops’ are awarded as ‘Class A Certified Shop’ by the Consumer Council.

The Council conducts the assessment annually to evaluate if the shops are being qualified for the ‘Certified Shop’ emblems and the assessment elements include on-site evaluation, evaluation by “mystery shoppers” and complaint records of the shops being assessed. This year, 1,105 shops passed the evaluation and are entitled to the 2015 ‘Certified Shop’ emblem, with a pass rate of 80%, while 274 shops failed the assessment and are disqualified for the new ‘Certified Shop’ emblem.

The Council will continue to improve its assessment scheme to ensure the standards of the ‘Certified Shops’ are maintained. Besides adding a grading system of 6 levels to its assessment mechanism of ‘Certified Shop’ in 2011, to ensure consumers are well informed, the Council is concerned whether the ‘Certified Shops’ have the prices of goods/services, and the exchange rates for other currencies to Patacas clearly displayed, and that after sales services are being provided to consumers.

The Council states that through continuous improvement in the evaluation scheme, the status of the ‘Certified Shops’ is thus augmented. Any shop that fails the assessment will be disqualified for the ‘Certified Shop’ emblem, and those shops that pass the assessment will be entitled to the emblems and consumers can shop with confidence at the ‘Certified Shops’. The assessment result this year is satisfactory and nearly 60% of the shops are graded A and B.

14 ‘Certified Shops’ are awarded as ‘Class A Certified Shop’ and the award ceremony of ‘Class A Certified Shop’ was held on 4th December at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. Out of the 14 ‘Class A Certified Shops’, 7 are jewellery and goldsmiths stores, the other ‘Class A Certified Shops’ include retail businesses such as are mobile phone retailing, money exchange and drug stores, etc..

53 representatives from different organizations were also awarded certificates for their continuous support as consultants of the ‘Consumer Arbitration Centre’ during the award ceremony.

The Council held a Chinese news writing competition earlier to arouse the public’s interest and participation in social affairs and enhance their awareness of consumer rights. The winners were chosen and certificates were presented at the ceremony.

Delegates attending the ceremony included Mr. Tong Hio Fong, Judge of the Court of Second Instance; Ms. Kan Cheng Ha, Arbitration Judge of the Consumer Arbitration Centre; representatives from government departments and members of the Consumer Council General Committee, etc.. The 2015 ‘Certified Shop’ emblems were distributed during the ceremony to those ‘Certified Shops’ that passed the annual assessment.

(Please see attached chart for the list of 14 'Class A Certified Shops')