57 fines issued against Ajman outlets

Ajman Department of Economic Development (ADED) issued 57 fines against various commercial outlets for violating prices and promotion regulation during its inspection campaign in the first half of the holy month of Ramadan.

Mohammed Al Kutbi, Director of Control and Consumer Protection, ADED said the directorate conducted an inspection of 233 commercial outlets in the emirate, while unearthing the violations.

He added that the inspections were part of the intensive campaigns being carried out to help secure the local consumer markets, especially during Ramadan. The move also aims at monitoring and following-up on the promotions and advertising activities made by these local business establishments.

He pointed out ADED campaigns and inspections are part of its commitment to protect consumer rights, which remains a strategic priority and an urgent requirement in the effort to build an ideal investment and consumer-based environment that helps in maintaining the stability of the national economy.

Al Kutbi explained that these drives are an integral part of the ADED efforts to control any change in prices, especially during Ramadan, where markets are more active than usual. "Our recent inspections have resulted in imposition of 57 fines."

Al Kutbi added, "We carried out three intensive inspection campaigns during Ramadan. First, the inspection of shopping centers and outlets to keep a tab on promotions and discounts in order to deter price manipulation and to ensure the stability of prices that protect both consumers and traders. Second, coordination with the Ministry of Economy while visiting the vegetable and fruits market to ensure the stable prices of the products and to monitor the erring shops that use defective weighing scales that do not meet permissible standards. Lastly, our aim is also to monitor the violations of advertising and billboards."

"We will continue our inspection and monitoring campaigns during the remaining days of the holy month, with the aim of maximizing consumer and investment safety," pointed out Al Kutbi.

• Ajman