Inspectors to keep close watch on food prices

Dubai's supermarkets will be visited by inspectors throughout the month to check they are complying with government caps on food prices and a ban on excess credit card fees. The Department of Economic Development announced yesterday it will carry out a series of checks throughout Ramadan, and will impose fines of up to Dh10,000 and refunds for customer charged excess credit card fees while shopping. The DED will also check whether prices advertised on products match what is being charged at the till, and that the set prices for basic commodities are not being exceeded during Ramadan. "Our campaign focuses on implementing field trips across all retail outlets to inspect prices and other relevant matters on the ground that will reassure consumers that we are monitoring the market closely during the month of Ramadan," said Omar Bushahab, CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division, DED. The department will also be checking that retailers across the emirate correctly display the DED's details, including numbers that enable customers to report concerns about consumer rights. Mohammad Lootah, Deputy CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division in DED, said yesterday inspections should not be seen as a crackdown on retailers. "The enforcement of consumer rights is not to make life difficult for retailers or to favour consumers but rather to promote a healthy trading environment which is transparent and regulated," he said. "Through this initiative we seek to ensure the availability of goods and products in the market and shopping centres at prices that [are] commensurate with the income of different categories of members of the community." The DED will also check retailers are not charging customers extra fees for using credit cards. From/ Gulf News