Acodeco finds violations in 43.3% of weights and measures checks

Panama’s consumer protection authority found noncompliance in 43.3% of the metrological checks it conducted between January and July 2026.

Acodeco carried out 4,848 inspections nationwide during the first seven months of the year. Of those, 2,748 met the requirements assessed, while 2,100 showed some form of irregularity.

Special inspections recorded 1,138 violations among 2,140 actions. Checks of net contents, covering products such as school supplies, cement, bread, eggs and gas, found 285 violations in 576 inspections, nearly half of the cases examined.

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verify that the instruments used in commercial transactions work properly and that the quantities, weights and measures checked correspond to what is offered to the consumer

Inspectors also recorded 380 violations involving the connection of 25-pound gas cylinders. Checks of the tare and labeling of those cylinders, regulated under Law 72, found 141 failures among 377 inspections. Of 198 checks of weights and scales, 31 did not meet the requirements.

Fuel inspections showed one of the highest compliance rates. Of 947 checks at stations, pumps and tanks, 926 complied and 21 showed irregularities, representing about 97.8% compliance. Checks of fats used in frying pans and fryers found 23 compliant cases and one violation.

Acodeco said its inspections are intended to verify that instruments used in commercial transactions work properly and that the quantities, weights and measures match what consumers are offered. The authority also said the checks protect consumers’ right to receive the exact amount of the product or service they pay for.

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the right of consumers to receive the exact quantity of the product or service for which they are paying