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Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), the entity responsible for developing quality infrastructure in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced the voluntary recall of 2,363 products in 21 categories including toys, electrical appliances, cosmetics, cigarettes and tobacco products. The recall was an outcome of the inspection campaigns on controlled products carried out in H1 2017 during which QCC inspectors examined a total of 36,291 products from 852 establishments.
Following the results of the inspection campaigns, suppliers of the products voluntarily withdrew those that failed to meet relevant safety and quality requirements.
The campaigns are part of QCC’s sustained efforts to ensure that all products retailed in the markets of Abu Dhabi meet its stringent quality and safety requirements in a bid to prevent defective products with health or safety risks attached from reaching consumers.
Sultan Al Mehairi, Director of Information Service and Engagement at QCC, said: “QCC keeps a close tab on all commercial activities in Abu Dhabi through carrying out routine and surprise market inspections to ensure that all traders and suppliers adhere to the relevant safety and quality regulations. Such inspections demonstrate our continued commitment to enhancing awareness of our quality and conformity requirements especially for controlled products.”
Al Mehairi added: “With regard to toys, for instance, our inspectors issue warnings to outlets retailing non-compliant toys. We ask them to take corrective measures to ensure they comply with specified standards and requirements before allowing them to resume the sale of such products.”
As part of the inspection drive, 12,038 toys from 319 establishments were examined including cotton toys, water toys and assembly toys, puzzles, audio, video and motor games, colouring toys, handicrafts, disguises and masks. Inspectors examined the toys for the GSO Conformity Marking and other relevant details and warning information.
The campaign also targeted electrical appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, cooking equipment such as water boilers, frying machines, grills and ovens as well as personal care products such as razors, among others.
A total 13,409 products from 224 establishments were checked and the inspectors ascertained that all the products complied with the relevant quality and safety requirements and carried the ECAS certificate issued by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). The requirements stipulate that all electrical appliances should be fitted with a 3-pin plug, and energy-intensive devices such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers must carry the energy efficiency label from ESMA to indicate their energy efficiency rating. An appliance with more stars is considered more efficient.
The campaigns also examined 10,844 tobacco products from 309 establishments. QCC inspectors confirmed their compliance with relevant regulations, such as obtaining ECAS certificate, and ensuring that the packs carried graphic images illustrating the risks of smoking as well as the required statutory warnings.
Al Mehairi also noted that QCC inspectors routinely monitor Abu Dhabi markets to ensure that recalled products are not offered on sale using the Manaa product recall system. He urged consumers to register on Manaa and follow QCC’s social media channels to receive the latest news and updates on recalled products from the emirate’s markets. He also thanked retailers for their cooperation with QCC inspectors, seeking their continued support for the council’s efforts to improve the overall quality of products sold in Abu Dhabi markets through joining the ‘Quality Partner Program’.
The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council was established in 2009 to raise the quality of the emirate’s exports and locally traded products while protecting the interests of consumers and supporting the UAE’s competitive economy. QCC empowers regulators to establish and implement product safety, legal metrology and conformity schemes. The Council also sets guidelines and benchmarks to verify that products manufactured and traded in Abu Dhabi conform to the highest quality standards.
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