The Ministry of Commerce has defamed a factory producing potable water and manufacturing bottles, following a court ruling condemning it for violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law. The laboratory results showed that there was an increase in bromate in the water that exceeded the permitted quantities according to the approved standard specifications for bottled drinking water.
The Ministry published a summary of the judicial ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah against the facility and its director, working in a potable water plant in Al-Badayea Governorate in Al-Qassim Region. The ruling included imposing a fine, closing the factory for a period of six months, and defamation by publishing the verdict in two newspapers at the expense of the violators.
The Ministry of Commerce 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.
The Ministry of Commerce calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints or observations through MC Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website.