UAE moves to curb fake perfumes

The UAE will enforce unique specifications for perfumes this year and officials said the new rules would lead to the disappearance of fake perfumes and turn the country into a major trading centre for such products.

A committee will be set up within two weeks to study new specifications and standards before they are presented to the federal cabinet for approval.

“The new specifications will be based on three main aspects-- safety, quality and weight accuracy,” said Mohammed Saleh Badri, acting director general of the Emirates Authority for Specifications and Metrology.

He told reporters that the new rules would be presented to the federal cabinet for endorsement while dealers could be given a six-month deadline to adapt to their new specifications.

“These specifications will ensure high quality of such products that will compete with foreign markets…they will also support consumers’ rights in getting authorized quality perfumes without being cheated….this means the UAE market will be free of fake perfumes within one or two years from the date of the enforcement of such specifications at the end of 2012.”

Badri said the new standards would turn the UAE into a key perfume trading centre, adding that the rules would also include penalties against offenders.