Cosmetic products worth Dh4.64 million confiscated from Dubai warehouse
Dubai — More than 549,000 duplicate perfumes and personal care products valued at Dh4.64 million were seized after the Department of Economic Development — Dubai (DED) raided a warehouse in Dubai.
Duplicate personal care products pose a health risk to consumers, said Ibrahim Behzad, Senior Director of the Intellectual Property Protection Section at the DED.
Duplicates of at least 23 well-known international brands were recovered in the raid. Over 126,000 duplicate perfumes; and 423,000 cosmetic products were seized.
The raid is part of the efforts of the Intellectual Property Protection Section of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division to safeguard the rights of the owners of brands. The DED raids warehouses on basis of complaints forwarded by trade brand owners or their representatives.
Behzad praised the efforts of trade brand owners, who participate effectively in keeping the emirate’s markets free of fake and imitation products. The DED, he said, has intensified its joint inspection visits to combat the “menace of trade fraud and duplication of products”.
He said trade fraud, infringement and duplication pose a “threat to the economy and cause damage to consumers and traders”.
Role of consumers
High quality duplicate products look almost exactly similar to the original ones, and it is here that the consumer must play an active role and demand purchase receipts while buying products. “In most cases traders don’t issue bills for the sale of duplicate products.”
The consumer must also get a warranty certificate for the products he buys.”
Behzad warned consumers about the dangers of using duplicate products, saying they pose a health risk.
Duplicate products, he said, may be cheap, but they are dangerous.
“Fake perfumes and cosmetic products are detrimental to human health, while duplicate electrical tools are not in compliance with the standards and specification followed in the country. Duplicate automobile spare parts might cause accidents. Counterfeit medicines are stored in warehouses in an improper and unsafe way, and endanger human lives,” he warned. He urged consumers to avoid going for products that are sold under the table.
He said in case of any doubt, consumers can immediately contact the Ahlan Dubai service at 600-545-555 or through the Sallaty app, or even report the matter on the Twitter page of the DED.
