Consumer Council assigns QR code to ‘Certified Shops’ for verifying genuineness

Consumer Council assigns QR code to ‘Certified Shops’ for verifying genuineness

Consumer Council assigns QR code to each ‘Certified Shop’ for consumers to check their genuineness using the newly launched ‘Certified Shop’ app. Consumers are also able to look up details of ‘Certified Shops’ and choose the one they are interested in through the app. The Council continues to raise the standard of evaluation for ‘Certified Shops’ since its launch in 2001, training courses are also provided to businesses for enhancing their standard. Businesses bearing the ‘Certified Shop’ emblem are therefore certified by the Council and also a guarantee to consumers. To avoid unscrupulous traders who use the ‘Certified Shop’ emblem to infringe consumer rights, the Council will start to assign a unique QR code to each ‘Certified Shop’ in 2016. Each QR code is a unique identity of each ‘Certified Shop’ and serves as an anti-fake mark. According to this year’s annual assessment results, about 1,000 emblems with QR code have been printed in the first phase. Consumers can use the ‘Scan your code’ function in the app to scan the QR code to verify the qualification of ‘Certified Shops’, the code not only helps to protect consumers but also maintain the image of ‘Certified Shops’. Each QR code presents details of each ‘Certified Shop’, including their scope of business and location, to help consumers’ easy navigation. Other functions in the app include ‘Nearby Certified Shops’ which enables consumers to check the nearest and most popular ‘Certified Shop’; ‘My favourite’ allows consumers to check their interested shop directly for the assessment results and latest news; other information on ‘Certified Shops’ will be published through ‘Push Notification’. Consumer Council hopes to bring convenience to consumers, especially tourists who are not familiar with the shopping environment in Macao, and to provide them with comprehensive information. The ‘Certified Shops’ app is now available on the Council’s website, App Store, and Google Play Store for download to be used on iOS and Android.