In its latest issue of Consumer Report no. 239, Consumer Council publishes the results of a test on toothpicks and bamboo skewers for the presence of sulphur dioxide. Test results show that 12 out of the 15 samples examined did not contain any sulphur dioxide and the amount of sulphur dioxide tested in the other two samples did not exceed the testing standards limit. The latest issue also includes the price survey data of food/beverage items from local cafés. Human beings make direct contact with toothpicks and bamboo skewers are used to thread food together, previous tests from other countries have revealed that sulphur dioxide are sometimes used to bleach toothpicks and bamboo skewers to make them look more pleasing, the Council therefore conducted a test and examined 9 brands of toothpicks and 6 brands of bamboo skewers from the market to test the presence of sulphur dioxide. The mentioned test was conducted based on the standard SN/T 2595-2010 used in mainland China regarding the materials of soft wood, wood, and bamboo products. According to the standard, the level of sulphur dioxide released from toothpick/bamboo skewers should not exceed 600mg/kg, and the current test result shows that all samples are satisfactory. No sulphur dioxide was tested in 9 toothpick and 3 bamboo skewers samples while the amount of sulphur dioxide tested in the other 3 samples was below the standard limit. Consumers and manufacturers are advised to check the packages and labels of this kind of bamboo products, and to choose those with the expiry date printed on the packages. The mentioned testing report is available in Consumer Report no. 239. The Council recently collected prices of four takeaway food/beverage items from 80 local cafés in six parishes of Macao, surveyed items included milk tea and toast with butter, etc.. The Council pays attention to the price discrepancies of the same food/beverage items sold at different places and suggests consumers to make price comparison before making any purchase. The mentioned price survey on food/beverage items from local cafés can be found in the latest issue of Consumer Report. In coordination with "Lei da actividade de mediação imobiliária" (law applied to the intermediary services in real estate operations) and "Regulamentação da Lei da actividade de mediação imobiliária" (regulation applied to the law) which came into effect on 1st July, the Council amended its 'Code of Practice' for its 'Certified Shops' under the industry of intermediary services in real estate operations. Copies of the 'Code of Practice' is now available for the industry and the public and its details is included in the current issue of Consumer Report. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at Consumer Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of Consumer Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the resources online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315. The above article can be downloaded at http://www.consumer.gov.mo/c/ccnews.asp
