Many fronts in fight against counterfeits in UAE

Ajman/Sharjah - The outlets caught selling the fake products were fined Dh15,000 each

 Next time when you buy a branded product, be cautious. Despite the collaborative efforts by different authorities, commercial fraud is targeting all kinds of products, including those related to health and safety, such as food, dietary supplements and cosmetics.
Recently, the Ajman Municipality launched an inspection campaign against outlets that deal with counterfeit goods of various popular brands, after the Ajman Economic Development Department (AEED) received 40 complaints from various companies.
Mohammed Al Kutabbi, Director of consumer protection at the AEED, said more than 13,000 counterfeit products of various brands were seized in the inspections carried out during the first nine months of this year. The outlets caught selling the fake products were fined Dh15,000 each, he added. "The counterfeit products included clothes, ladies bags, cosmetics, perfumes and shoes. The department, in coordination with the municipality, also confiscated many expired goods that raise health risks to consumers."
Also read: Can you spot fake brands in Dubai?
The AEED lunched various awareness programmes to educate the consumers about the dangers of using fake products and ways to identify the authenticity of various products. It included a circulation of a booklet, which explains regulations to prevent the sale of counterfeit products, among the public.
Khalid Al Hosani, Director of Health and Environment at the Ajman Municipality, said that the civic body is working with various departments to fight counterfeits by launching inspection campaigns.
Majid Al Saeed, director of the inspection section at the Ajman Port and Customs Department, said that the department had been taking all measures to prevent the entry of any counterfeit products into the country. "We are currently using advanced devices that can inspect 60 containers in an hour and identify 250 colours accurately. These devices are connected to an electronic programme that recognises the counterfeits."
A top official at the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) said that the department had seized 35,848 fake auto spare parts worth Dh300,000 from a warehouse in the Sharjah industrial area recently. The inspectors also seized 92,948 bottles of counterfeit perfumes of various international brands.
He added that those who were found to be involved in commercial fraud and counterfeit activity will have to pay up to Dh500,000 in fines and face closure of the premises. If the products are found to affect public health, they will be referred to the police and public prosecution. "Fake perfumes could cause skin irritation and allergies, while fake spare parts would cause serious accidents," he said.
The official urged the public as well as companies to report any kind of counterfeit goods by calling the SEDD's toll-free customer service line on 600567777.
Juma Mubarak Fairouz, Director of the Department of Commerce Control at the Ministry of Economy, stressed that the ministry considers the fight against commercial fraud and counterfeiting as a matter of paramount importance, and works to protect the UAE community from its catastrophic consequences.
In a recent workshop organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Mohammed Ahmed Amin, assistant director-general for communication and business at SCCI, said commercial fraud has become an international concern, which will require intense efforts to confront.­
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai