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Putting a spotlight on counterfeit automotive parts, leading UAE auto parts distributor A-MAP has welcomed recent proposed amendments to an anti-fraud bill expected to come into effect next year as suggested by the Federal National Council (FNC).
The proposed bill, which covers the whole country and its freezones, has been lauded by Asad Badami, managing director of A-MAP, which specialises in the distribution of aftermarket automotive spare parts, automotive batteries, tyres and lubricants, and who believes fake parts put the lives of the UAE’s road users in peril.
“We’re pleased to see the FNC addressing the issue of fraud and counterfeiting with a firm stance. Fake parts may be cheaper, but their safety and durability are not tested, and fitting them could come at great cost to everyone’s safety on the road, not just that of the driver,” Badami said.
“Counterfeit automotive parts could also cause significant vehicle damage, as they are built to vehicle specification, and could trigger breakdowns or worse. They typically don’t last as long as genuine parts and vehicle owners will have to replace them much quicker,” he added.
The proposed legislation, which will replace a 35-year old federal law, will put in place far greater punishments for those who contravene it.
As recently as October of last year, more than 2,000 counterfeit car parts and accessories worth more than AED 600,000 were confiscated in Al Ain, according to officials.
Overall more than AED 35 million in counterfeit products were seized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED) in 2013, and a recent study by the Brand Owners Protection Group suggested that car parts could account for almost 70 percent of all fake goods in the UAE, based on market value and volume.
The US Federal Trading Commission (FTC) suggests that counterfeit auto parts cost the general global automotive parts as much as USD 12 billion a year in lost sales, with about USD 1 billion of that estimated in the Middle East alone.
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