This is after the end of six-month-deadline given to enterprises to rectify the irregular signboards
The Ministries of Commerce and investment, and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs will start next Sunday a joint campaign to ensure the shops commitment and comply with the regulations relevant to the signboards. This campaign aims at enhancing the consumer confidence and to protect him against any misleading or confusion, and to ensure the absence of circumvention by using some fake names and trademarks, or by misusing other similar shop names, or manipulating in the design of signboards.
The two Ministries have formed a joint working group of specialists to control the irregularities related to signboards, where the trade name must be clear to the consumer and identical to what is registered in the commercial registration or trademark, and not to use misleading methods in the signboards, like reducing some words or enlarging other words in the trade name to delude or mislead the consumer by showing that the shop belongs to a well-known chain stores, as well as placing a trademark owned by others, without having the right to be used by a third party.
This joint control campaign comes after the end of a six-month-deadline granted by the two Ministries to the shops and stores to rectify and amend the signboards, in accordance with the rules & regulations in force. Legal penalties will be imposed against the violators in accordance with the municipal fine and penalty list, and the trade name law, which provides for a fine of up to SR 50.000 against the offenders, besides doubling the penalty in case of repeating such violation.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs would like to emphasize their keenness to enhance the joint efforts to provide a fair and stimulating trade and investment environment, and to provide the necessary protection for the investor and consumer, so that to maintain and promote a sustainable development.