UAE law on anvil to curb trade fraud

The UAE is in the process of enacting a new law to curb trade fraud and ensure better protection for consumers, an official was quoted on Monday as saying.

The new legislation will include tougher penalties against fraud offences, counterfeit activities and copyright violations, said Humaid bin Butti, Executive Director of trade affairs at the Ministry of Economy.

“The Ministry is working on a new anti-fraud law…the law takes into consideration all legislations in force in the country and it will include amendments to the current law that was issued in 2006,” Butti said during a workshop on fraud held in Ajman on Sunday.

“The new law will involve more deterrent penalties against fraud activities and violations of the consumers’ right,” he added.

Butti gave no further details of the new rules but the Ministry of Economy said last month it was planning to introduce stiffer penalties against offences related to fraudulence and copyrights and intellectual property violations.

The Ministry has stepped up raids on shops and other marketing outlets suspected of dealing in fake products. A large quantity of fake mobile phone accessories, mostly made in China, was seized during a raid last month on Defence Road, the main mobile phone market in Abu Dhabi.

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