Bill to check abnormal hike in prices

Salam Abu Shihab, Staff Reporter

The Federal National Council is to discuss in its twelfth session next Tuesday a consumer protection bill. The meeting will be held remotely under the chairmanship of Saqr Ghobash, President of the FNC.

The law provides that in the event of a crisis or unusual circumstances in the market leading to an abnormal increase in prices, the Minister of Economy or his delegate has the right to take temporary measures which limit this increase and protect the interests of consumers and not harm them.

The executive regulations of this law define the principles and procedures in determining what is considered an abnormal increase in prices.

The project also stipulated, in the matter of electronic commerce, the commitment of registered suppliers within the UAE, working in the field of electronic commerce to provide consumers and the competent authorities with their names, legal status, addresses and licensing points, and adequate information in Arabic about the commodity or service provided and its specifications and terms of the contract, payment and guarantee. The ministry or the competent authority will not consider unlicensed suppliers within the country.

The project also stipulated imprisonment for a period not longer than two years and a fine of no less than Dhs10,000 and no more than one million dirhams, or one of these two penalties for anyone who violates any of the provisions of Articles 18,17,12,11,10,8, 6.5 of the law.

The penalty shall be doubled in case of return.

Also, according to the law, a violator will be imprisoned for a period not exceeding six months and a fine of no less than Dhs3,000 and not exceeding Dhs200,000, or one of these two penalties in case of violating any of the provisions of Articles 19,16,15,14,13, 24 of the  law, and the penalty is doubled in case of return.

The project also stipulated, by decision of the Cabinet or upon the proposal of the Minister of Economy, the formation of a higher committee with the name of the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection affiliating to the ministry, and headed by the minister and the membership of representatives from the competent authorities and consumer protection societies, in addition to two experts and specialists chosen by the minister.

In April, the Federal National Council, FNC, discussed and passed ten federal bills as part of its mandate to develop the country’s legislative system, according to a report on the House’s activities in the first quarter of the year.