Ministry limits role to ad content, not leaflet drops

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The Industry and Commerce Ministry has told Shura Council member Dr Ali Al Haddad it is not responsible for regulating the distribution of advertising leaflets left on house doors or vehicles without owners’ permission.

In a written reply signed by Minister, His Excellency Abdulla Fakhro, the ministry said this type of leaflet drop, including material placed on homes or cars, does not fall within its remit.

The response addressed Al Haddad’s questions about what the ministry is doing to organise such distribution and how it might work with other bodies to curb the practice, promote compliance with rules, protect public cleanliness and avoid disturbing residents.

Content

The ministry said that while it does not oversee the act of distributing these materials, it does oversee the content of commercial advertising through its consumer protection role.

Ban

It applies the Consumer Protection Law of 2012 and its executive regulations, which ban misleading advertising and set out penalties and corrective steps for violations across commercial adverts, whether published directly or shared through traditional or online channels.

It also referred to joint work with the Interior Ministry’s anti-cybercrime unit, including awareness drives for consumers and traders on unlawful or misleading adverts.

Complaints

Consumer complaints about deceptive advertising, it said, are received and handled through the ministry’s customer service channels.

For marketing offers, discounts and prize draws, the ministry said its Consumer Protection Directorate reviews documents before such promotions are published in shops or on social media, and issues licences after checking that requirements are met.

Businesses are required to display the licence certificate clearly at the front of the shop, with failure to do so treated as an administrative breach.

The ministry added that it provides several reporting routes, including the Consumer Protection Contact Centre on 17007003, and carries out periodic and seasonal inspections across commercial activities in all governorates of Bahrain.

It also advised consumers to check the validity of marketing campaign licences and the sources of adverts before making a purchase.