The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has shut down a plant for dates packaging in Qatif Governorate. Illegal labors used to mix various types of unknown dates after forging the validity date, and then to be distributed through different sale outlets.
MCI inspection teams seized about 3.5 tons of dates ready for packaging, 900 kg packed in special boxes ready for distribution, in addition to a large number of syrup drums produced inside the plant.
During the plant inspection, the inspectors monitored lack of health requirements. In addition, there were large amounts of anonymous dates collected and mixed by illegal labors, they used to place forged validity dates for cheating and deceiving the consumers. The inspectors also detected large quantities of counterfeit stickers, prepared to be placed on the packages.
Meanwhile, MCI inspection teams took the legal measures against the illegal labors, and they were handed over to the security authorities. All the fake quantities were seized and confiscated, and those responsible were summoned by MCI for investigation and taking the legal measures against them.
This comes within the Ministry’s on-going inspection rounds on warehouses and commercial institutions, to ensure their regular work, and the absence of fraud and manipulation practices on consumers.
MCI would like to confirm that it will not hesitate in imposing the legal penalties on offenders and those involved in the practice of commercial fraud, and all that put the health and safety of consumers at risk.
MCI calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints and observations through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900) or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report via their smart phones round the clock.