IT is estimated that anywhere between 15 and 30 percent of all car spare parts available in the Kingdom are counterfeit. Consumers continue to buy counterfeit parts because of their low prices and availability, overlooking the fact that counterfeit spare parts can compromise the safety of their vehicle and put other drivers at risk. Al-Riyadh daily reports that around 3 million counterfeit spare parts such as oil and air filters and lamps have been seized by customs officials since the beginning of 2015, an alarming sign that official monitoring is ineffective at keeping counterfeit car parts off of the Kingdom's roads. Faisal Abu Shousha, chairman of auto agents committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers, blamed the Tasattur practice (an illegal understanding whereby Saudis permit foreigners to manage businesses in their names in return for a stake in the profits) for the large number of fake products available in the market. “Most of the counterfeit products available on the market have been imported from different countries. The manufacturing companies abroad deal only with their agents in the respective country, which means we can control the flow of these products in the market and impose stricter measures,” Abu Shousha said. He called upon the authorities to intensify monitoring of local auto factories, especially ones making filters and brakes. He said such factories should be required to obtain proper quality permits from the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) as well from the original manufacturers of the parts abroad. The products should then be tested before they are released into the market. Abu Shousha also blamed local printing houses that participate in the process by printing fake trademarks onto packaging. According to Muhammad Al-Ajlan, deputy chairman of the Saudi-Chinese Businessmen Council, the best way to fight counterfeit products is to raise consumer awareness about their dangers. The concerned authorities and the media should play a key role and educate consumers about the importance of buying original parts and how to recognize fake ones. Jameel Al-Ghamdi, senior manager of spare part sales at Abdul Latif Jameel Company, warned that most counterfeit products are for key parts of the car such as brakes, spark plugs, oil filters and fuel filters. “Any failure in the function of these spare parts will result in dire consequences to the driver and the vehicle itself,” Al-Ghamdi noted while underscoring the importance of monitoring the activities of printing houses that violate regulations by printing fake slogans and trademarks of internationally known companies. SASO spokesman Tamis Al-Hamadi said the penalties imposed on sellers of counterfeit car parts vary and depend on the type of violation. Sometimes inspectors, usually from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) and SASO, impose on-the-spot penalties and suspend the activity of a business, all in line with the MOCI laws and regulations. Other cases are referred to the pertinent courts. “Some countries are known for their low-quality spare parts and SASO officials have held many meetings with their counterparts in these countries to limit the import of such products to the Kingdom. We've signed several agreements with them to ban the entry of substandard products into the Saudi market. Only SASO-approved products can be sold in the Saudi market,” he said.
