21,000 counterfeit mobile chargers seized

RIYADH: A total of 21,000 counterfeit mobile chargers, which are harmful to users, were seized across the Kingdom.
Warning consumers of the risks of using fake mobile phone chargers, an official from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said here that ministry teams carried out 2,687 inspection tours in all regions of the Kingdom that detected 706 violations in different commercial facilities.
During these inspection tours, he said teams confiscated more than 21,000 fake mobile phone chargers that didn’t measure up to Saudi Standard Specifications and which would pose a risk to the safety of consumers, he added.
Earlier, the ministry seized more than 9,000 phone chargers for violating consumer protection regulations, the anti-Commercial Fraud Law, and not conforming to provisions of the Trade Data System.
The official added that all producers and distributors are legally committed to print the trademark on all goods and affix a label showing a description of the items and their prices before they are offered to the local markets. The inspection tours, which discovered the violations, go in line with endeavors rendered by the ministry to achieve its goals, and reflect its on-going keenness to conduct continuous reviews of all products offered in the markets to provide the necessary protection for consumers and to ensure the absence of any harmful effects from the devices.
The ministry warned all consumers against buying counterfeit mobile phone chargers for cheap prices since they may cause serious damages to persons and properties.
The ministry drew the public’s attention to the risks of fake chargers that may electrocute users, in addition to causing damage to internal parts of the mobile phone set.
The official said the ministry has called on all consumers to buy original chargers that are in conformity with the standard specifications in order to avoid such risks.
The government will impose legal penalties on sellers of such fake chargers, and those who ignore the instructions issued in that regard to earn a quick profit.