Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection discusses implementation of pricing policy for basic consumer goods in the country’s market

Meeting reviews latest updates on the issuance of the new executive regulation of the consumer protection law

The Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection held a meeting chaired by H.E. Abdullah bin Touq al Marri, Minister of Economy, to discuss mechanisms for the implementation of the pricing policy for basic consumer goods in the country’s market, which was adopted by the Cabinet. The policy aims to prevent the prices of nine basic consumer goods from rising without prior approval from the Ministry of Economy and relevant authorities. The nine basic commodities are cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and flour. The prices of other goods are subject to market mechanisms, as well as supply and demand dynamics.

H.E. Bin Touq confirmed that, under the directives of the wise leadership, the country has made significant strides in developing integrated legislation and policies to protect consumers, in line with international best practices. The committee meeting discussed a series of supporting resolutions and policies to strengthen and upgrade the country’s consumer protection ecosystem. Most notably, it discussed mechanisms for the implementation of the pricing policy for basic consumer goods in collaboration with relevant federal and local entities. The policy seeks to enhance and organize relations between suppliers, sales points, and consumers. This will help ensure the rights of all parties and support the implementation of best practices in trade, as well as the seamless flow of goods and their availability to consumers across the country’s markets.

 The committee reviewed a set of indicators that reflect the Ministry of Economy’s and the economic development departments’ efforts to regulate the prices of basic consumer goods in the market. It noted that there has been a 95 per cent rise in the compliance rate of sales points and cooperatives with regard to the price of eggs and poultry. Moreover, 209 inspection tours were carried at sales points and cooperatives across the country between April and 5 July 2023. A total of 125 violations or failure to adhere to officially approved prices were found during these inspections.

The meeting saw the Minister of Economy highlight the crucial role of economic development departments of all seven emirates and its importance in enforcing the pricing policy for basic consumer goods.

Furthermore, the committee reviewed the latest updates on the draft of the executive regulations of Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on consumer protection. In this regard, H.E. Bin Touq said: “The executive regulations represent a milestone in strengthening the consumer protection ecosystem in the country and enhancing compliance with the legislation in line with best practices. They balance the contractual relationship between the consumer and the supplier, identifying the supplier’s obligations to protect the consumer from receiving defective goods or services, limiting monopolies, and providing the best solutions to tackle all customer-related challenges.”

The meeting also reviewed Cabinet Resolution No. 58 of 2023 on the addition of new members to the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection. These are H.E. Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; and H.E. Eng. Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

H.E. Bin Touq underlined that the joining of new members reflects the committee’s commitment to further expanding its efforts in partnership with federal and local entities in the country.

The Committee currently consists of H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Vice-Chairman of the Committee; H.E. Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and advanced technology; H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Fan Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Monitoring and Follow Up Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Rapporteur of the Committee; and H.E. Eng. Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Other members include representatives of economic development departments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain; and Ras Al Khaimah; the municipality of Fujairah; Emirates Society for Consumer Protection; Emirates Nutrition Association; Emirates International Accreditation Centre and experts and specialists in the field of consumer protection from the private sector.