RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has announced the recall of over 70,000 household electrical appliances during the current year. They included various several brands of air-conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and washing machines, as they were not in conformity with the energy efficiency specifications, and were likely to cause a rise in electricity consumption, more than that mentioned on the energy efficiency sticker on the appliance, as well as raise the consumer's electricity bill. The ministry has called on all consumers using appliances of the types included in the recall to verify the serial number of the product via the website of the Center for Recalling Products Not in Conformity with Specifications. Then they can contact the companies and agents so as to withdraw the product and get cash refunds or replace the product with another that consumes less energy and reflects positively on the consumer. The ministry has asserted that it has announced all the recalls on the website of the Center for Recall of Products with Flaws, as well as in the ministry's accounts in the social media, in addition to publishing in the local newspapers and the various mass media. This step comes within the sphere of the joint efforts of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), and the Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency. This is within the efforts of the Saudi Program for Energy Efficiency for Recalling Products Not In Conformity with Energy Efficiency Specifications and for creating awareness among consumers on the ideal use of electrical appliances, cutting power wastage and rationalizing consumption. The Ministry of Commerce and Investment urges consumers in general to visit the website of the Center for Recall of Products with Flaws (Istid'aa), that has the capability to search and identify the products not in conformity with energy efficiency that have been subject to recall campaigns during the past period and the telephone numbers of companies and agents of those products. The most recently recalled products are shown according to their serial numbers, the ministry said.
