RIYADH – The Shoura Council on Tuesday started deliberations on the draft uniform law for consumer protection in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The Council session was chaired by its President Abdullah Al-Asheikh. Minister of State and Member of Cabinet for Shoura Affairs Muhammad Abu Saq attended the session. Addressing the Council, he commended the keenness of the Council in further enhancing cooperation and cohesion with the government Yahya Al-Samaan, assistant president of the Council, said that the law, which consists of 37 articles, aims at ensuring protection of the rights of consumers, including provision of compensation, and exchange and return of defective products. There are provisions in the law to hold traders, importers and distributors accountable for violating rights of consumers. It also stipulates stringent punitive measures against violators of provisions related to commercial ads and discounts, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The law, prepared by the Council's economic and energy committee, protects the rights of consumers to return or exchange or get money refund if the goods are found lacking the prescribed conditions and criteria pertaining to quality, health, and safety within a stipulated period of time after the purchase. Al-Samaan said the Council approved amendments suggested by the government in the law for trading in petroleum products, which was approved by the Council last year. The law aims at regulating all the commercial activities related to trading in petroleum products, including use, sale, transport, stocking, distribution, export and import. The Council approved the memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of satellites and space communications signed between the Ministry of Defense and the Arab Satellite Communications Organizations (ARABSAT). It also endorsed the draft cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and Kazakhstan in the peaceful use of nuclear energy signed in Riyadh earlier.
