The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed the owner of a foodstuff Est. and an Expat of Egyptian nationality, who manage the Est.. They were found guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by offering and selling expired foodstuffs. This is a clear violation which necessitate a penalty, since such expired items may pose risk on the health and safety of consumers.
A verdict was issued by the Criminal Court in Makkah condemning the violators and imposing a fine on them, as well as closing the Est. in violation, confiscating and destroying the seized products, deporting the Expat from the Kingdom and not to be allowed to return for work, besides defamation by publishing the verdict in two local newspapers at the expense of the violators.
In details, MCI inspection teams monitored an Est. specialized in foodstuff wholesale and retail, offering and selling expired foodstuffs, including milk powder and canned food. Accordingly, all the expired quantities were seized and destroyed, and the case was referred to the judicial authorities for taking the legal measures.
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.