Consumers beware, your item may be underweight

The UAE has issued a fresh warning to traders trying to circumvent a government decision to keep consumer prices unchanged through 2012 by putting under-weight items in the market.

The Ministry of Economy said those caught doing so would be fined up to Dh100,000 on the grounds this practice is illegal and means higher price.

The consumer protection division made the warning during a meeting at the Ministry with representatives of key consumer suppliers on Tuesday.

“Tampering with the item’s weight is an attempt to increase its price…this is an unjustified price rise, which is illegal according to the consumer protection law,” the division’s director Hashim Al Nuaimi said.

“The Ministry of Economy will take tough action against such offences including imposing a fine of up to Dh100,000...the Ministry will not tolerate any weight tampering and other manipulative practices.”

Quoted by the Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum, Nuaimi said Ministry inspectors had seized underweighted bottles and cans of foodstuffs and other consumer products carrying the same price. He said suppliers and the shopping outlets which sold those products were penalized.

In a statement last week, the Ministry of Economy said most consumer prices would remained unchanged until the end of 2012 and warned suppliers and shopping outlets against any attempt to break the rule.

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