AL AIN 9 January 2018: The Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi (Added), has confiscated over 10,500 counterfeit car spare parts in a residential area in Al Ain as part of its efforts and cooperation with Al Ain Municipality to combat commercial fraud and in response to the many complaints received from consumers.
Ahmed Tarish Al Qubaisi, Acting Director of the Commercial Protection Department at ADDED, said that the campaign was launched after many complaints were received from consumers who live in the area. The seised goods were confiscated, and a ticket was issued against the individuals who illegally traded such materials, said Wam.
Al Qubaisi explained that the latest seizure comes as part of a number of inspection campaigns that are implemented by the DED as part of its annual plan that aims to combat commercial fraud in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He also emphasised that the DED’s keenness in this context to maintain the commercial activity in the retail sector which is considered one of the most significant industries in the country that is currently experiencing increased activity.
He noted that the DED aims – by implementing this campaign with its strategic partners in a number of areas across the emirate – to send a clear message to the owners of automotive spare parts shops and individuals as well, regarding the importance of adhering to the conditions and requirements of commercial activity practice by maintaining trademarks rights, protecting intellectual property, ensuring free competition among all, and protecting the consumer against commercial fraud.
Al Qubaisi stressed that the Added will carry out many measures and penalties as per Law No. 02 of 2009 regarding the establishment of the ADDED and Decision No. 25 regarding the organisation of economic activities, in addition to the issue of commercial licenses which allows the department to issue penalties against any body or individual that carry out commercial fraud. Such sanctions may include closing the facility down and imprisonment with a fine.
He called on consumers to contact the department via the government contact centre number to immediately inform about any commercial fraud is practised, especially the selling of car spare parts which in turn may pose a serious threat to public health and the integrity of individual’s vehicles.
Warnings to 45 salons, expired items seized
The City Municipal Centre at Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM), has announced that it had served 45 warnings to hairdressing salons and beauty parlours, seized 1,046 packs of outlawed and expired materials, and issued eight judicial injunctions to offenders, as part of a series of inspection campaigns recently launched by the centre in Abu Dhabi.
The ongoing inspection campaigns aimed to follow-up the compliance of hair-cutting and beauty salons with the standards set for the occupation by Abu Dhabi City Municipality. The inspection also seeks to detect and seise any illegal or unlicensed materials to aid public safety.
The inspection campaigns covered men’s salons, ladies beauty centres, children’s salons, outlets selling cosmetics, and ladies gyms. Inspection visits covered 686 stores during which the municipality seized 1,046 packs of expired, outlawed or harmful materials, such as black henna and Chinese henna, while also issuing 45 warnings to the violating establishments.
During their field visits, inspectors detected several explicit violations relating to poor hygiene of the facility, using expired items, and failure to clean and sterilise equipment, as well as the poor storage and dispensation of hair care products. The inspection campaigns are in line with Law No. 02 of 2012 prohibiting any natural or corporate person from practising any business that may have an adverse or harmful impact on the public health, hygiene and tranquillity in the emirate.
Verbal warnings are served to beauty parlours in case of the failure to comply with hygiene conditions, lack of general maintenance, and inadequate cleaning of facilities. Before serving any offence, violators are offered a grace period to redress their attitudes and comply with the applicable rules and regulations. In the case of detecting expired materials, poor storage of items, the use of prohibited items or offering remedial services without an official permit, offenders will be served with immediate tickets or injunctions where the concerned judicial authorities will decide the amount of fine.
The municipality seeks to continue its monitoring and follow-up of these facilities and will not tolerate any breach of the applicable rules and regulations for the sake of protecting public health.