Multinational firms 'should abide by local laws, respect consumers'

Multinational companies are being urged to observe local laws and fully respect consumers' rights, after Nike Inc and two Japanese firms were criticized by a program on China Central Television on Wednesday.

The annual consumer rights protection gala, which aims at uncovering abuses by companies, said the labels of Muji, a Japanese household and consumer goods brand, concealed the fact that some products were made in areas with import restrictions related to possible contamination from the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011.

Japanese snack food maker Calbee Inc was accused of making some of its cereals in areas also under trade curbs due to the nuclear incident.