The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed the owner of an Est. engaged in the retail of ready-made garments, shoes, bags and accessories in Makkah. She was found guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law and the Commercial Data System by offering and marketing expired cosmetics, not bearing any commercial data. Consequently, all the expired items were confiscated and destroyed, since they pose a risk to the safety of users.
A sentence was issued by the Criminal Court in Makkah to condemn the female owner of the establishment, imposing a fine with the closure of the violating store, confiscation and destruction of the seized products, besides defamation by publishing the sentence in two local newspapers at the expense of the defendant.
The quantities seized at the store, located at Al Safwa Towers in Makkah, included a number of expired cosmetics and others not bearing commercial data that should show the ingredients of the product, its validity and country of origin. The items in violation included cream, moisturizers, powders, body care, hair oil and others.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment confirms the continuation of addressing those violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by taking stern measures and imposing the legal penalties against them, in view of the fraud and deception towards the consumers. The Rules & Regulations related to Anti-Commercial Fraud Law stipulates penalties that may reach to three-year imprisonment, fines up to one million riyals or both , Defamation in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator, deportation of the illegal labors from the Kingdom, besides the suspension and prevention of practicing the same commercial activity.
MCI calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints or observations through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website.