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29 March 2024

Over 200,000 fakes seized in Abu Dhabi

Published
By Wam

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s Abu Dhabi Business Center (ADBC) conducted 247 inspection raids in outlets and commercial establishments in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region in the first quarter of 2016, and confiscated 200,428 counterfeit products. These included auto spare parts, electronic devices, clothes, accessories, beauty products and other items.

In it’s Q1, 2016 report, ADDED’s Commercial Protection Division said the raid resulted in issuing 1,555 fines against outlets and establishments that violated laws and regulations of practising business activity in some sectors across the Abu Dhabi.

Seven stores were closed for non-compliance with the emirate’s business practice laws and regulations.

According to the report, 33,164 field visits were conducted to Abu Dhabi’s stores and establishments in Q1 of 2016.

In the same period, the Commercial Protection Division received 945 complaints from consumers and trade mark owners about wrong or illegal practices by some businesses, street vendors and others.

Consumer awareness during Ramadan

Khalifa bin Salem Al Mansouri, ADDED Acting Undersecretary, stressed the ADDED commitment to trace and eliminate all negative practices that will affect the performance of the business environment in Abu Dhabi. He lauded the role of ADDED’s strategic partners across government, semi-government and private sectors in helping the authority achieve its strategic goals of establishing a competitive business environment in the emirate.

During the month of Ramadan, ADDED conducts inspection visits to vegetable and fruit markets, livestock markets and other outlets across the three regions of the emirate in coordination with the Ministry of Economy, he said and added that ADDED also distributes pamphlets to raise consumer awareness during Ramadan.

He called on the public in Abu Dhabi to report any violations to competent bodies, especially ADDED as it is responsible for the regulation of commercial activities in the emirate in coordination with other stakeholders.

Al Mansouri stressed that in line with its endeavours to promote its role in the field of commercial protection in Abu Dhabi, ADDED has initiated procedures to enforce laws of competition and intellectual property protection, to develop electronic platforms to receive consumer complaints, to launch awareness campaigns to ensure consumer rights and protection and to enforce governance mechanisms along with strategic partners in the field of consumer protection.

"The ADDED is now implementing a number of strategic commercial protection projects in cooperation with relevant government partners in the emirate, including the establishment of a consumer protection center, market monitoring, restructuring the retail sector like supermarkets, geographic coding, mobile truck vending, eliminating nominal or mock trade licenses and the provision of the services of the Commercial Protection Division through smart mobile applications.

Raids and complaints

The report also said that 58 inspection raids were conducted in January to trace commercial fraud and combat negative practices in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. They resulted in confiscating 2,126 electronic devices, clothes and accessories in addition to 234 sheep from street vendors.

There were 88 raids in February, resulting in the seizure of 162,816 items, including counterfeit car spare parts, electronic devices, clothes, accessories, beauty products. Apart from these 27.5 tonnes of vegetables and fruits and 3 tonnes of clothes and household items were also confiscated from street vendors.

In March 101 inspection visits resulted in the confiscation of 35,486 items including car spare parts, electronic devices, clothes, accessories, beauty products as well as 10,220 Kg of vegetables and fruits.

Region-wise, the report noted that the city of Abu Dhabi has seen 19,657 field inspection visits to stores and commercial establishments during the first quarter of 2016. During these visits, 761 fines were issued. The Commercial Protection Division received 490 complaints from customers and trade name owners in the city.

In Al Ain, 8,963 field inspection visits were made to stores and commercial establishments during the same period, in which 707 fines were issued. The Commercial Protection Division received 441 complaints from customers and trade name owners in the Al Ain.

As for the Western Region, 4,544 field inspection visits were conducted in the first quarter, where 87 fines were issued against violators. The Commercial Protection Division received only 19 complaints from customers and trade name owners in the Western Region.