Organized by Seaports and Customs Department in Sharjah

Al Khaleej Newspaper - Issue No.10543 23 Rabee Al Awal 1429 Hijri- 31st March 2008-04-02

Distribution of Certificates during the closing of the workshop

Dabbah, Al Fujeirah – Abdel Hakeem Mahmoud

The Department of SeaPorts and Customs in Sharjah organized yesterday with the co-operation of Al Shaali & Co for Legal Consultancy a workshop on the differences between original and counterfeit products that involved 27 attendees from the Khor Fakan Port Customs, Al Khatma Al Melaha Customs in Kalba as well as inspectors from the Ministry of Health in Kalba.

This workshop that was conducted at Al Aqaa Medidian Al Seyahee in Dabbah, Fujeirah comes as part of the Memorandum of Understanding that the Department of SeaPorts and Customs in Sharjah with the Counsel of Brand Owners in the UAE during this year. This Council involves a number of International Brand owners who have registered their trademarks at the Ministry of Economy.

The Workshop started with a lecture given by Rawan Sunna, legal consultant at Al Shaali & Co for Legal Consultancy who confirmed the important role of Customs in combating the war against the increasing numbers of counterfeit products and the ways to reduce this phenomena, including raising the awareness of counterfeit products through conducting trainings and workshops.

She also mentioned that the war against counterfeit is an old one yet it is still increasing and developing with time as counterfeiters are now using technology to manufacture products that are similar to the originals and she confirmed that the increase in numbers of counterfeit products will still be ongoing with the demand of these counterfeit products as they are cheaper in price.

Furthermore, she warned against the dangers of counterfeit products on the safety and health of humans as well as the economic dangers and implications of the counterfeit products on criminal activities against humanity and the increase of unemployment working in factories and companies.

This workshop included a training presented on behalf of Braun on how to differentiae between several original and counterfeit products.

At the end of the workshop, Mr. Khamees Al Badawee, the Director of Customs Department in Khor Fakan and the Director of Al Khamtma Customs Department handed in certificates and souvenir gifts to the participants.