Business | General
More action needed against fakes
The government should do more to protect not just consumers, but also businesses from the continued flow of counterfeit goods into the market, executives say.
- By Rachna Uppal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:57 March 26, 2009
- Image Credit: Francois Nel/Gulf News
- Hashim Saeed Al Nuaimi, director of the Consumer Protection Department in the Ministry of Economy, addressing the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Dubai: The government should do more to protect not just consumers, but also businesses from the continued flow of counterfeit goods into the market, executives say.
Business representatives expressed dissatisfaction with what they consider the inadequacy of penalties imposed on those found guilty of selling counterfeit goods in the UAE, at a seminar on Consumer Protection Against Counterfeiting, organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
There was concern regarding cheaper Chinese imitation products entering the market, and sold out of free zones such as Dragon Mart in Dubai, which are subject to different rules and regulations. Business representatives said the present penalties - including fines and imprisonment - are insufficient deterrents.
"There have been steps taken in the past regarding the role of government in co-operation with the authorities," said Hashim Saeed Al Nuaimi, director of the consumer protection department in the Ministry of Economy.
"There will be meetings in the short term and legal discussions regarding counterfeit goods in the market from free zones," he added.
Earlier this month, the UAE Government launched a campaign to raise awareness among consumers on key issues related to consumer protection, at the fourth GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) Consumer Protection Day. This includes measures to avoid unjustified price increases, in which the Ministry of Economy worked closely with leading supermarkets.
"Definitely this [the campaign] was very effective, but it is not an overnight job, it is a sustained effort," Nandkumar V, head of corporate communications at Lulu Supermarket, told Gulf News. "[Such initiatives] keep the awareness level going."
Supermarkets such as Lulu in the UAE have very strict procedural guidelines in place to avoid the possibility of any counterfeit or imitation goods getting onto shelves.
"Supermarkets and hypermarkets have a reputation to protect and they are not willing to sacrifice their reputation," according to Essam Badwailan, brand protection manager for the Middle East and North Africa at Unilever Company, which has had an anti-counterfeit department in the Middle East since 2001.
"One of our objectives is to support our partners in the government and team to be professional inspectors and easily spot each and every counterfeit product," Badwailan said.
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