The Ministry of Commerce has taken proactive measures against 200 e-stores after discovering that they were in violation of e-commerce credibility compliance standards. All offenders were referred to the E-Commerce Violation Committee for penalties in accordance with the enacted implementing regulations.
The Ministry will continue to monitor such activities in order to strengthen e-commerce transaction credibility and reliability, defend and safeguard e-consumer rights, and create a vibrant and fair commerce environment.
The Ministry kept track of the activities of the small, medium, and big enterprises offering a variety of goods, including electronic devices, cosmetics, and furniture, to name a few.
The E-Commerce Council has previously urged e-stores to adhere to the following 13 e-commerce credibility and reliability standards as follows:
1. Have a contact number for communication;
2. Have an email;
3. Have a chat option;
4. Provide secure electronic payment through official banking channels;
5. Enable the consumer to lodge a complaint online;
6. Enable the consumer to lodge a complaint via social media;
7. Disclose the exact time to respond to a complaint;
8. Disclose the exact time for processing a complaint;
9. Disclose the exact time of delivery before completing the purchase, indicating this in the invoice;
10. The store supports the Arabic language as a means for filing a complaint;
11. Use Arabic in chat;
12. Display products in Arabic;
13. And having a clear and written return or refund policy.
The E-Commerce Law and its implementing regulations impose penalties on violators including up to one million riyals in fines, blocking and closing the website and banning the business from practice.