Saudi students bag 27 awards at Regeneron ISEF 2024    Civil defense issues weather warning amid forecasted thunderstorms    Public security launches online service for reporting financial fraud on Mada cards via Absher    Ministry of Interior reports over 16,000 violations in latest inspection campaign    Aramco signs three MoUs with American companies to advance lower-carbon energy solutions    King Abdulaziz University launches female admissions in maritime studies    Palestinian death toll nears 35,400 as Israel continues to pound Gaza    Pro-Palestinian protests continue across US campuses amid arrests    White House confirms evacuation of 17 American doctors from Gaza hospital    Tense calm in New Caledonia as France increases security presence    Jorge Jesus praises Al Hilal's resilience after dramatic last-minute draw in Riyadh Derby    Saudi Arabia's RGA implements innovative road technology for Hajj season    Star golfer Scottie Scheffler arrested over alleged assault on police officer    Saudi Arabia joins International Agency for Research on Cancer    Row erupts over portraits of Australia's richest woman    Al-Ittihad's victory drought continues, misses chance to qualify for ACL elite    Al Ittihad CEO frustrated with 'not positive' SPL feedback, announces internal assessment    Cognite Data Fusion now available on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia    Indian spices face heat over global safety concerns    Glioblastoma: Top Australian doctor remains brain cancer-free after a year    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    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.