Expo to save consumers from fake spare parts

Manama : The Consumer Protection Directorate, under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism, launched yesterday ‘Genuine and Counterfeit Spare Parts Expo’ at Bahrain City Centre.
The expo, held in cooperation with the Car Dealers Association from 15 to 21 March, aims at spreading awareness to consumers on key fundamentals of original and counterfeit car spare parts and their risks.
The automotive sector is considered a vital area relevant to the consumers. The exhibition focuses mainly on educating the public to differentiate between counterfeit parts and those which do not meet with the quality standards. The exhibition also aims at the significant harm the spurious parts can do to the consumers and the economy in general.
According to Sinan Ali Aljabery, Director of Consumer Protection, consumers have to be educated about their rights and on how those rights are to be used properly. There is an element of infringing the trademark and violating intellectual and industrial property rights in using such fake components, he said.
Aljabery said, the directorate will take all possible measures to check out such illegal activities, and it has sought co-operation from the Car Dealers Association, which has extended support in the exhibition.
Habeel Jaafar, an official from Ebrahim K Kanoo said, “It is really difficult to separate fake parts from the genuine ones. Sometimes even the experts will get confused. However, we are trying to inform the public to assure safety and longevity for the vehicles. They have to depend on authorized agents for genuine spare parts.”
Mohamed Mahmood, Marketing Manager, YK Almoayyed, said, “I would like to thank the Ministry for conducting such an exhibition and giving us the opportunity to guide the public from getting themselves deceived.”
The Consumer Protection Directorate has, however, called for support from all relevant sections including Standardization & Metrology Directorate, Industrial Property Directorate, Customs Affairs and Technical Testing, Directorate of the General Directorate of Traffic for providing the consumers necessary protection from the risk of fake components.