The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed the owner of an Est., specialized in the wholesale and retail of foodstuffs in Dammam. Those responsible were found guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by possessing and offering expired foodstuffs, stored in a warehouse non-conforming to standard specifications. This is considered punishable offense, since it does pose risk on the health and safety of consumers.
A verdict was issued by the Criminal Court in Dammam, including a fine of SR 100,000 on the violator, closure of the violating Est. for two months, confiscation and destruction of the seized expired items, besides defamation by publishing the sentence in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator.
In details, MCI inspection teams detected expired foodstuffs at a warehouse belonging to a food Est. in Dammam. Some items had already expired since one year, and other items were stored under the sunshine, also some foodstuffs were kept in the refrigerator, in addition to the presence of cats and rodents in the warehouse. This is a clear violation of the health and safety requirements. Accordingly, all the expired items were seized, confiscated and destroyed, and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution and then to the judicial authorities for taking the legal measures against the offenders, in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law.
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.