Abu Dhabi: Members of the National Federal Council (FNC) will ask the government tomorrow [Tuesday] to tighten controls on imports of illegal goods and to prevent anti-religious products from entering the country.

Dr Mohammad Mosallam Bin Ham, FNC member from Abu Dhabi, said he will be demanding the Ministry of Economy safeguard “the border gates of the state by further strengthening the inspection of import products and bring the UAE’s consumer product safety system into line with its key trading partners.”

Citing a wide variety of consumer products including harmful food and beverages and children’s toys, household products and sporting goods, Bin Ham will put a question to Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, proposing that ports across the country be more vigilant to stop these harmful or anti-Islam products.
He said consumers in local markets every now and then stumble across children’s toys that issue sounds mocking Islam, or sportswear with words or drawings that are offensive to Islam.

“Other foods and beverage seized in the local markets were found to be contaminated with bacteria and fungi and subsequently pose a health hazard. Moreover, banned nicotine products were recently seized in Umm Al Quwain, after 18 children aged between six and 11 years found to abuse these drugs,” Bin Ham said.
Meanwhile, Energy and Health ministers will be facing questions on electricity and water tariffs, an increase in petrol prices and the opening of a hospital.

Ahmad Mohammad Rahma Al Shamsi, a member from Ajman, seeks clarifications from Mohammad Bin Dha’en Al Hamili, Minister of Energy and Chairman of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority, about the disparity in electricity and water costs in different emirates.

The House will also hear Al Hamili’s answer to another question on the reasons behind the rise of petrol and fuel prices compared with other Gulf countries.

Ahmad Ali Al Zaabi, a representative from Sharjah, said he will ask whether there are plans to build refineries in the country to meet demand for fuel and seek explanations for stopping petrol supplies to Enoc and Eppco stations in the northern emirates (Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman.) Another question will be posed to acting Minister of Health, Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais about the new Masafi hospital, which was built by a donation from President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who assured the importance of completing operational phase two of the project so that the hospital could play its role in serving outpatients either in the clinics or emergency wards.

The council will also review a federal law on the 2012 budget.

A draft 2012 federal budget of Dh41.8 billion has been passed by the Rulers of the Emirates without presenting it to the House for approval, skipping a constitutional clause to do so.

Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, recently told the council the federal budget was passed by the Rulers of the Emirates, for fear of delay [if it was presented to the FNC].

Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shaheen, a representative from Ras Al Khaimah, said the Government’s failure to present the UAE’s federal budget was unconstitutional.
Dr Gargash while objecting to the representative’s remarks, admitted: “No doubt, matters are not proceeding ideally, but there should not be thought that the government was breaking the law or was not cooperating with the House.”