In cooperation between MCI inspection teams and the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA), three warehouses in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, involved in forging the validity of food supplements, have been shut down. A suspected case of commercial concealment has been found as well.
In details, MCI received a tip about forging the validity of food supplements at illegal warehouses in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. They used to print new validity dates on the products in order to distribute them in pharmacies. The illegal warehouses were raided simultaneously, more than 4000 food supplements had been confiscated and seized, as well as all the tools used in forging and counterfeiting.
The inspection and control teams confiscated all the fake quantities, then to be destroyed, since they pose risk on the health and safety of users. The warehouse owners were summoned by MCI for further investigation, and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution for taking the necessary legal measures, in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, besides taking the action regarding the illegal labors.
MCI and SFDA will not hesitate to take stern measures against those violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, taking into consideration the protection of consumers against any manipulation, deception, cheating and misleading. The relevant Rules & Regulations impose penalties of up to three-year imprisonment and fines of up to one million riyals, or both, besides defaming the violator in two local newspapers at his expense, also deporting the illegal labors from the Kingdom, and preventing the violator from practicing the trade activity.
SFDA Executive Regulations stipulate imposing penalties of ten-year imprisonment and a fine of ten million riyals, or both, on those intentionally offer or distribute food or pharmaceutical products that are prohibited, adulterated or harmful to health.
MCI calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints and reports through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website.
SFDA also calls on all consumers to report any complaints against illegal medical products through SFDA toll free No. (19999).