RIYADH: Saudi Customs has announced the opening of the 2nd Arab Forum for Consumer Protection, Commercial Fraud, Counterfeiting and Intellectual Property Rights Protection at King Faisal Hall in Riyadh, Sunday. Abdul Mohsen Bin A.R. Al-Shenify, a member of the forum's executive committee, said the exhibition will display genuine products from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to create awareness among consumers about fake products in the market. He said participants include a large number of national, regional and international specialists and experts in the field of commercial fraud and counterfeiting products, and customs department directors-general from Arab states, the Middle East and North Africa. The forum will discuss important topics including, “Partnership with the private sector in combating commercial fraud and counterfeiting”, “Commercial fraud in medicine”, “The role of pharmaceutical companies in combating fraud in the medical industry”, “Safeguarding conformity certificates from forgery”, “The role of private laboratories in limiting commercial fraud and counterfeiting techniques of sample testing”, and “Combating fake products using testing, certification and inspections”. The participants will start deliberating at a workshop on a number of topics before the official opening. “A workshop on the media's role in creating awareness about commercial fraud and counterfeiting products will also be held,” he said. The Saudi Customs Department has organized the forum under the slogan “10/10”. Saudi Customs has applied 10 important safety measures and will successfully achieve the objectives by 10-10-2010. He said the forum comes as a realization of the crucial role Saudi Customs has been playing by providing services to Saudi citizen and consumers to combat commercial fraud and counterfeiting of products and goods. The counterfeit products might harm the interests of consumers in terms of material loss and health risks. “Commercial fraud also has a damaging effect on the economy and national development,” he said. Saudi Customs is offering programs to make consumers aware of their rights and arming them with knowledge to combat all forms of abuse, exploitation, extortion, fraud and deceit, he explained. It is also involved in training cadres to identify and differentiate between genuine and fake or imitated goods, he added.
