SHARJAH: The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), police and Ministry of Health have seized large quantities of counterfeit products from warehouses, pharmacies and other outlets in various parts of Sharjah in the joint operation, an official said here the other day.
As many as 3,820,92 fake items comprising cosmetics, automobile spare parts, perfumes, wallets and branded bags were seized.
The products were seized during intensified inspections in the last two months of November and December.
An official at the SEDD said inspections were intensified in coordination with the departments concerned. “Some of the items seized were made in the country while others were imported,” he said.
He added that inspections will be intensified throughout the year to fight counterfeit trade fraud which had spread recently in the emirate. The SEDD deployed 50 well-trained inspectors to control the market and ensure goods are genuine. “Counterfeit products will be confiscated and destroyed and offenders will be fined and will face legal action,” the official said.
He stressed that the SEDD imposes fines ranging between Dh500 and Dh50,000 based on the kind and seriousness of the violation. Violations include working on an expired licence, illegal use of the internet, making of cabins and rooms in the premises without permission, fake promotion, ads without permission and conducting business that is not listed in the licence.
The official explained that other violations include failing to stick to the stipulated prices, promotion of products that are hazardous to health, lack of labels that contain information of the products, refusing to accept bad products and failure to provide guarantee to services provided or of sold products.
The official urged the public to understand their rights as consumers and also to avoid buying fake products that could affect health and the environment.
