Individual investment portfolios in Saudi stock market rise 13.5% in Q1 2025    Saudi Arabia's digital experience maturity index reaches 86.7% in 2025    Makkah region prisons sign strategic MoUs with three universities    For big tech, the future in Saudi Arabia lies in nurturing local expertise    Fakeeh group delivers 1H 2025 revenue of SR1.51 billion, up 13% year-on-year Attributable profit rises to SR154 million, solid 28% year-on-year fuelled by patient growth across the group    World marks 80 years since US dropped atomic bomb on Japan as global powers still trade nuclear threats    More than 100 missing after flash floods in India    UN official says Israel expanding Gaza operations would risk 'catastrophic consequences'    Trump's envoy Witkoff meets Putin as ceasefire deadline looms    Al Hilal fined, banned from next Saudi Super Cup after withdrawal    Ed Sheeran surprises fans with Irish performance    'The Walking Dead' actress Kelley Mack dies at 33    Saudi Arabia to host forum on Hajj and Two Holy Mosques history in November    Saudi Arabia unveils official identity and slogan for 95th National Day    Heritage Commission reports 24 violations of archaeological sites and artifacts in July    Danish zoo asks for unwanted pets to feed its predators    Saudi Arabia's 'Terhal' returns with immersive second edition in Diriyah    Al Qadsiah sign Saudi starlet Musab Al Juwayr from Al Hilal    Salm Al-Dawsari returns to Al Hilal training after injury layoff    Saudi defender Saud Abdulhamid joins RC Lens on loan from AS Roma    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tough action sought against traders selling adulterated rice
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 02 - 2012

Rice importers and merchants have urged the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to crack down on crooked traders selling adulterated rice – in bags printed with the names of quality brands – to unsuspecting consumers.
The importers and merchants say that this rice – which is largely a mixture of poor quality rice, with only a small amount of quality rice – has affected legitimate businesses. Many rice businesses have even gone bankrupt because of these illegal practices, the merchants were quoted as saying in Al-Madina Arabic daily on Saturday.
They claim these criminals have been able to get away with their activities because of lenient government penalties.
Citing an example of the tricks of these unscrupulous traders, Abdullah Al-Jafali, a distributor, said some merchants import inferior quality rice at about $400 to $600 per ton. They then mix this with quality brands, repack it in bags carrying the names of quality-branded products, and sell it for between $1,000 and $1,400 a ton.
He said this adulterated rice has caused great damage to the merchants and importers who trade in quality brands.
Muhammad Al-Shalan, a big importer of rice in the Kingdom, said it was a huge problem and that several distributors have gone bankrupt.
Sulaiman Al-Mehadb, a rice importer, said importers have suffered severe moral and material losses because of the criminal behavior of these traders. He called on the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to protect merchants and consumers.
He said this has resulted in consumers losing confidence in legitimate importers. After building up a good reputation in the market, many importers now suddenly have their credibility questioned.
“The Ministry of Commerce and Industry should be held accountable for the spread of this phenomenon because if it had tight control over the market, it would have succeeded in combating this malpractice a long time ago.”
Officials at the ministry said that the ministry's inspectors often raid and arrest traders who are involved in these illegal practices.
Dr. Zain Al-Abideen Beri, a member of the Shoura Council, said that under the Kingdom's commercial fraud laws, a trader involved in such illegal activities can face a three-year prison sentence or a SR1 million fine, or both. In addition, those found guilty can also be named-and-shamed in the country's media, especially if the adulteration damages the health of consumers.


Clic here to read the story from its source.