“ADDED” implements inspection and control campaigns targeting markets and sales outlets during the month of Ramadan

The Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi (ADDED) is intensifying inspection and control campaigns in local markets & sales outlets in Abu Dhabi during the month of Ramadan. As part of its endeavours to ensure the protection of consumers from the negative aspects and immoral practices that may be undertaken by some commercial establishments in certain seasons and occasions. 

During next May, ADDED is currently implementing an Inspection and Control Plan targeting markets in the three main cities of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi which are “Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ad Dhafra” including campaigns in sales outlets, vegetables & fruits markets, markets livestock trade, meat stores, and consumable good stores . Aiming to raise awareness of the consumers on consumption behavior during the month of Ramadan.

H.E. Rashid Abdulkareem Al Baloushi, the Acting Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi stated “through the Trade Protection Department, ADDED seeks to strengthen consumer trust in Abu Dhabi local markets, through establishing efficient partnerships with commercial establishments, intended to collaborate in the implementation of initiatives & campaigns that would protect consumers and keeping their rights of knowing prices and inquiries while buying products and services especially during annual seasons. 

He indicated that inspection campaigns carried out by ADDED during the month of Ramadan aim to check the price labelling on goods offered in various commercial establishments. In addition to check billing with information clearly and correctly reflected, to apply the generalization of using Arabic in invoices, to adhere to the declared prices of goods & services, to comply with obtaining a permit for sales and promotions and to place the permit in a prominent place in the establishment and to check the weights card and the real weight of the product. 

Moreover, he underlined that ADDED remains committed to intensify its control and inspection campaigns during occasions and feast (EIDs) days which are characterized by huge commercial activity in the different cities of the Emirate. This necessarily requires to step up work in order to protect consumers and monitor all breaches of the regulations and requirements of engaging in commercial activity. 
 

H.E. Rashid Abdulkareem Al Baloushi added that such campaigns which are carried out by the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi on annual basis, represent part of the Trade Protection Department’s annual plan under which ADDED seeks to follow-up all negative practices that could have an impact on the performance of the doing businesses sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and eradicate it. Paying tribute to the role of the Department’s strategic partners including government and semi-government entities as well as the private sector and their efforts towards achieving the strategic objectives of the Department of Economic Development aiming to secure a competitive business environmental in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. 

H.E. Al Baloushi called upon the members of Abu Dhabi community to counter such phenomena through immediate reporting of any breaches to the concerned entities by contacting the Office of Government Communication 800555, of which ADDED is considered a key player as responsible for the regulation of business activity in Abu Dhabi, in coordination and collaboration with the relevant entities.
 

The control and inspection plan that has been implemented early before the month of Ramadan focuses on 15 major sales outlets in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra of about 250 shops including foodstuffs stores as well as vegetables, fruits and livestock trade markets. 

The Department of Trade Protection of the ADDED underlined the need for suppliers to abide strictly by labelling the card in Arabic on the wrapping or packaging of goods offered, provided that they are prominently clear, readable and understandable. This card includes information on the commodity, its nature, ingredients, name, date of production & packaging, date of expiry, net weight, and country of origin and other related information.  While underlying the consumer right to obtain a dated invoice including the name of the supplier, address, labeling, sales unit, quantity of goods or number of units sold and the price of good in the local currency. 

The campaign also seeks to raise consumer awareness during the month of Ramadan on consumption culture. It is intended to implement an awareness-raising campaign, under which the department will disseminate Ramadan advices through sales outlet in the Emirate, in addition to employ social media applications to address the consumer public in this regard. 

The resolution on generalizing the Arabic Language is in keeping with the Department of Economic Development’s oversight role represented in the consumer protection section to ensure the implementation of the Resolution issued by the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection, chaired by the Ministry of Economy. Concerning the use of Arabic Language in all economic activities in the UAE which are directly interacting with the general public, in terms of reception and call centers’ services, invoicing and lists of prices and contract, etc. 

The Consumer Protection Section has issued a range of circulations earlier, aiming to serve and protect consumers in the market-place. Including a circulation requiring compliance with price fixing and not increasing it over the various occasions and seasons. As well, no additional fees or services are to be charged for consumers unnecessarily, returning of the remaining amount indicated in the invoice to the consumer, not to mislead or deceive the consumer through advertising, and the prohibition of discrimination among consumers in selling the commodity or the service either in prices or in quality. 

It is worth noting that the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi has implemented 181,410 inspection and control visits to the commercial establishments in Abu Dhabi over 2018. Pertaining to commercial fraud and countering negative trade aspects, which covered the three main regions of the Emirate “Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra” compared to 171,494 visits conducted over 2017 marking an increase by %5.2. 

A 2018 Trade Protection Department’s report noted that inspection visits included 95,944 visits implemented in Abu Dhabi and 58,019 visits implemented in Al Ain and 27,447 visits implemented in Al Dhafra. Resulted in the confiscation of 123,577 fake and fraudulent items of car parts, electronic devices, garment, accessories, cosmetics, construction materials, tobacco products and others.

According to the report, the indicator on receiving complaints by the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi submitted by consumers increased over 2018. The number of complaints totaled 5169, spread over 3736complaints filed in Abu Dhabi, 1376complaints filed in Al Ain and 57 complaints filed in Al Dhafra, whereas the number of complaints filed in 2017 totaled 3003. 

The report pointed out that the Indicator on levying penalties against establishments violating the rules and regulations of exercising economic activity in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi decreased over the past year by %97.7 compared to 2017. Over the last year, the indicator recorded 4765 ones spread over 3106 penalties in Abu Dhabi, 1348penalties in Al Ain and 311 penalties in Al Dhafra, compared to 9424 penalties levied in 2017. 

The report also monitored a number of inspection and control campaigns implemented during the seasons over the last year, the most important of which were a campaign in ladies salons, which included the inspection of 12 main centers in Abu Dhabi city and another campaign on fruit and vegetable markets, which included 48 shops and a campaign on livestock markets including 24 shops. In addition to a campaign of inspection and control targeting the offers and promotions declared, to ensure the credibility of the offers and match it with the permits granted by the Department.