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Fake goods seized in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi Municipality, in cooperation with several international trademarks agents, has raided local markets in the emirate and confiscated loads of goods of 200 fake brands.

The raid was part of a drive by the municipality to fight commercial fraud, which officials say threatens national economy.

An official of the municipality said yesterday that it was carried out according to a plan drawn up by the Public Health and Environment Department. It was aimed at exercising control over the flow of goods in local markets, verifying the origin of those commodities, their quality and ensuring health and safety of consumers.

"Such raids will help us exercise full control over the flow of goods in local markets. We need to make sure what reaches consumers are coming from the original manufacturer and not otherwise. We also need to make sure that goods sold to consumers would not pose any hazard to their health and safety. "Our campaign is also aimed at safeguarding our national economy against commercial adulteration, which causes major economic losses," said Fadhil Al Mazroui, Head of the Market Control Section.

He said the municipality had adopted a market control strategy which was directly linked to public health and based on a set of principles aimed at ensuring consumer protection against any contaminants or fake ingredients in day-to-day consumable commodities.

He said surprise raids were being carried out round-the-clock, seven days a week, to crack down on traders and vendors selling fake goods, on the directives of Shaikh Mohammed bin Butti, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the Municipality and Town Planning Department.

The raids target locked and tinted glass vehicles, which transport goods from their place of origin. Offending vehicles will be impounded and goods will be confiscated if the driver is not licenced by the producing company or the agent of the brand. Mr Mazroui said that most of the confiscated fake goods were intended for use by children. According to findings, most of these goods are being sold at small shops in residential areas.

The municipality's market control inspectors enjoy full judicial authority, which empowers them to confiscate any items not complying with applicable standards and specifications.

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