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Federal Law No. 19 of 2016 on Combating Commercial Fraud, United Arab Emirates

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Latest Version in WIPO Lex
Details Details Year of Version 2016 Dates Entry into force: December 16, 2016 Issued: December 12, 2016 Type of Text IP-related Laws Subject Matter Trademarks Notes Federal Law No. 19 of 2016 on Combating Commercial Fraud was published in the Official Gazette on December 15, 2016, and entered into force on the following day, in accordance with its Article 25.

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Main Text(s) Related Text(s)
Main text(s) Main text(s) Arabic قانون اتحادي رقم 19 لسنة 2016 في شأن مكافحة الغش التجاري      English Federal Law No. 19 of 2016 on Combating Commercial Fraud        
 Federal Law No. 19 for the year 2016 In respect of Combating Commercial Fraud

(ジェトロ仮訳)

Federal Law No (19) for the year 2016

In respect of Combating Commercial Fraud

We, Khalifa bin Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates.

- Having reviewed the Constitution

- And the Federal Law Ni(1) of 1972 on the Jurisdiction of Ministries and

Competence of Ministries

- And the federal law No (15) of 1975 in respect of the Commercial Register

- And the federal law No (14) of 1979 in the respect of Suppression of Fraud

and Deceit in Commercial Transactions

- And the federal law No (15) of 1979 concerning Agriculture Quarantine and

its amendments

- And the federal law No (10) of 1980 concerning the Central bank, The

Monetary System and Organization of Banking and its amendments

- And the federal law No (18) of 1981 concerning Organization of the

Commercial Agencies and its amendments

- And the federal law No (4) of 1983 concerning the Profession of Pharmacy

and Pharmaceutical Establishments

- And the federal law No (2) of 2015 concerning the Commercial Companies

- And the federal law No (5) of 1985 concerning the Civil Transactions Law

of the United Arab Emirates and its amendments

- And the federal law No (3) of 1987 concerning the Penal Code and its

amendments

- And the federal law No (35) of 1992 concerning the Criminal Procedures

and its amendments

- And the federal law No (36) of 1992 concerning Rehabilitation

- And the federal law No (37) concerning the Trade Marks and its

amendments

- And the federal law No (38) of 1992 concerning creating plant nurseries and

organizing the production, importation and circulation of layers.

- And the federal law No (39) of 1992 concerning the production, importation

and circulation of fertilizers and soil reclaiming

(ジェトロ仮訳)

- And the federal law No (39) of 1992 concerning Agricultural Pesticides

- And the federal law No (11) of 2015 concerning Supervision of Trading in

stamping of precious metals and stones

- And the federal law No (18) of 1992 concerning Commercial Transactions

- And the federal law No (14) of 1995 concerning counter measures against

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances

- And the federal law No (20) of 1995 concerning medicines and products

derived from Natural Resources

- And the federal law No (4) of 2000 concerning the Emirates Securities and

Goods Authority and Market and its amendments

- And the federal law No (28) of 2001 concerning setting up of Emirates

Specification and standards Authority and its amendments

- And the federal law No (7) of 2002 concerning Copyright and Neighboring

Rights and its amendments

- And the federal law No (17) of 2002 concerning the Industrial Regulation

and Protection of Patents, Industrial Drawings and Designs and its

amendment

- And the federal law No (8) of 2015 concerning the Federal Customs

Authority

- And the federal law No (3) of 2003 concerning the Organization of

Telecommunication Sector and its amendment

- And the federal law No (1) of 2001 concerning Electronic Commerce and

Transactions

- And the federal law No (24) of 2006 concerning the Protection of the

Consumer and its amendments

- And the federal law No (6) of 2007 concerning Establishment of the

Insurance Authority and Organization of its Operations and its amendments

- And the federal law No (13) of 2007 concerning Goods Subject to control of

Import and Export and its amendments

- And the federal law No (5) of 2012 concerning Combating of Information

Technology Crimes.

And in accordance with the presentations made by the Minister of Economy

and the approval of the Council of Ministers and the federal national Council

and ratification of the Supreme Council.

(ジェトロ仮訳)

Promulgate the following Law:

Article (1)

DEFINITIONS

In application of this Law, unless the context requires otherwise, the following

words and expressions shall bear the meaning set and against them:

The State: The United Arab Emirates

The Ministry: The Ministry of Economy

The Minister: The Minister of Economy

The Competent Authority: The Federal or local competent Authority

The Higher Committee: The Higher Committee of Combating Commercial

Fraud

The Sub-Committee: The Committee of Combating Commercial Fraud in the

concerned Emirate

Commercial Fraud:

Deception of one of the customers by any means whether by changing or altering

the goods or their amount or nature or price or their material description or origin

or source or fitness or any other matter related thereto, or presenting un true or

misleading trading information on the promoted products, which include fraud,

imitation and cheating by doing service which does not conform with the

applicable laws or may include false and misleading statements.

Deception:

Using fraudulent means either by word of mouth or by doing an act by one of the

contracting parties to induce the other party to enter into a contract or the omission

purposed by one of the parties of a certain incident or circumstance or defect in

(ジェトロ仮訳)

goods if it is proved that party would not have entered into the contract should he

became aware thereof.

Goods:

Every natural material or animal or agricultural or industrial or converted product

including raw materials an ingredient used in the product.

Trader:

Any natural or juridical person who works in his name and account in the business

activities prescribed by the Commercial Transactions Law or assumes business

activity or take one of the forms set forth in the commercial companies law even he

practices civil activity or announce to the public in any manner the activity which

he set up for trading or exercises business using false name or hidden behind or

hiding another person.

Establishment:

Any corporate or company or other legal entity takes any of the legally forms

whereby the economic activity may be exercised in the State.

Fraudulent Goods:

Goods which do not conform to the regulations, conditions, requirements,

specifications and measurements determined by the laws, rules, regulations and

decisions, applicable in the State, or that goods, subjected to alteration whatever its

nature or form or source without obtaining necessary approvals, or that advertised

or promoted contrary to their fact.

Corrupt Goods:

The goods which become not suitable for use by reason of storage transportation

factors or being vulnerable to other bad natural conditions or that contravened the

terms and conditions prescribed by the laws, regulations and the approved

technical specifications.

Counterfeit Goods:

The goods which bear, without permission, a trademark which is identical or

similar to a legally registered trademark.

(ジェトロ仮訳)

Article (2)

1. The provisions of this law shall apply to anyone who commits an act of

commercial fraud; and the free zones in the State shall not be exempted from

the provisions of these laws.

2. Any of the following acts shall be considered to be an act of commercial fraud.

a.Importation or export or re-export or manufacture or sell or offer for sale or

possession with the intent to sell or store or rent or marketing or circulation

of fraudulent, corrupt or counterfeit goods.

b.Advertising for prizes or reductions which are fictitious or untrue.

c.Using commercial advertisements or presentations in misleading promotions

or incorrect announcements, or promotion for fraudulent, corrupt or

counterfeit goods.

d.Offering or presenting or promoting or announcing for fake commercial

services.

Article (3)

Without prejudice to criminal liability, the relevant authority may issue a decision

ordering the importer to return fraudulent or corrupt goods to their source within a

specific period of time. If the importer fails to return such goods to their sources

within the said period, the competent authority may order to be destroyed or

permits to be used for any other suitable purpose or may undertake returning such

goods to their source. Counterfeit goods shall be destroyed in accordance with the

rules and regulations determined by the implementing regulations of this law.

(ジェトロ仮訳)

In all case the importer shall be pay any costs or expenses incurred by the

competent authority in disposing of such goods.

Article (4)

The trader shall be liable for the following:

1. To submit to the competent authority mandatory trade books or alike, which

reflects correct commercial statement of the goods he owns or possesses, and

their value and all other supporting documents and invoices whenever

requested.

2. To put on the goods explanatory statement which are the definitely tag or any

written or printed or painted or engraved for any of the products showing the

components of the commodity and how to be used or serviced or stored in

accordance with the laws applicable in the State.

3. To submit to the competent authority any evidence determining the details and

information of the provided service.

Article (5)

1. A committee shall be formed in the Ministry by a decision of the Minister to be

known as the Higher Committee for Combating Commercial fraud, to be

presided over by the Ministry undersecretary and two representatives of the

competent authority as members, and shall be in charge of the following.

a. To propose strategies and policies for combating commercial fraud.

b. To study commercial fraud reports referred by the competent authority and

take appropriate decisions thereof.

(ジェトロ仮訳)

c. To identify obstacles facing implementation of the law and suggest a

mechanism to tackle such obstacles.

d. To issue the necessary regulations for the work of sub-committees.

e. To carry out any other relevant task assigned under a Ministerial Resolution.

2. The Higher Committee may seek the assistance of any advisors and expert, as

it deems appropriate without granting them the right to vote on its decisions.

Article (6)

A sub-committee shall be formed in every emirate for combating the commercial

fraud and shall undertake the following:

1. To look into the submitted request for conciliation of the establishment

violations with the exception of the violations mentioned in Article (14) of this

Law.

2. To warn the offending establishment. The implementing regulations of this law

shall determine the types of warnings.

3. To close down the offending establishments for a period not exceeding two

weeks in coordination with the competent authority.

4. To follow up the process of destruction, recycling or returning to the source

according to the situation of fraudulent, corrupt or counterfeit goods.

5. To provide the Ministry with periodical report on its activities in accordance

with the implementing regulations of this law.

Article (7)

(ジェトロ仮訳)

The parties concerned may object against the closing down decisions issued by the

sub-committees, before the Higher Committee within a period not exceeding five

business days from the date thereof. The Higher Committee shall issue its

decisions on such objection within three business days from the date on which such

objection was submitted.

Article (8)

1. The sub-committee may conduct conciliation of the offences in accordance

with the request of the offender, and set the fine for which the offender shall

pay, provided that it shall not be less than two times of the minimum limit of

the fine prescribed by this law.

2. If the offender refuses conciliation, the papers shall be referred to the public

prosecution. If refusal is made by the sub-committee, the offender may appeal

to the Higher Committee.

3. The implementing regulations of this law shall determine necessary procedure

to conclude conciliation.

Article (9)

Except for goods which are subject to damage by expiration of their validity

periods, the competent authority may keep the confiscated goods under custody of

the offending establishment and at its own expense for a period not exceeding

thirty days from the date of confiscation and not to be disposed of pending a

decision in respect thereof by the sub-committee.

Article (10)

(ジェトロ仮訳)

The offending establishment may request the release of the confiscated goods from

the competent court. Such goods may be released only under a court order.

Article (11)

The proceeds of conciliation referred to in Article (8) of this law shall be credited

to the account of the competent authority that carried out confiscation.

Article (12)

Whoever commits crime of commercial fraud shall be punished by imprisonment

for a period not exceeding two years and a fine of not less than fifty thousand

dirhams and not exceeding two hundred thousand dirhams, or either of the two

punishments.

Article (13)

Whoever attempts to commit a crime of commercial fraud shall be punished by

imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine of not less than ten

thousand dirhams and not exceeding one hundred thousand dirhams, or either of

the two punishments.

Article (14)

Whoever commits or attempts to commit a crime of commercial fraud in case the

subject of the crime is human or animal food or medical drugs or agricultural crops

or organic agricultural products shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not

exceeding two years and a fine of not less than two hundred fifty thousand dirhams

and not exceeding one million dirhams, or either of the two punishments.

(ジェトロ仮訳)

Article (15)

1. Subject to the provisions of Article (3) of this law, whoever disposes of goods

under custody in any manner without obtaining approval or permission from

the sub-committee shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not

exceeding six months and fine equivalent to two times of the value of the

goods disposed of.

2. In the event that the goods disposed of are human or animal food or medical

drugs or agricultural crops or organic agricultural products, the punishment

shall be imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years and a fine of not

less than two hundred fifty thousand dirhams and not exceeding one million

dirhams, or either of the two punishments.

Article (16)

The trader shall not be exempted from the punishment prescribed by this law, even

if the buyer is aware that the commodities are fraudulent, corrupt or counterfeit.

Article (17)

In the event of conviction in one of the crimes stated in Article (14) and Clause (2)

of Article (15) of this law, the court shall order confiscation or destruction of the

foods or drugs or crops or product and the tools used, in addition to the prescribed

punishment, and shall order such judgment to be published on two daily local

newspapers, one of which should be Arabic, at the expenses of the convicted

person.

Article (18)

1. In the event of conviction in one of the crimes stated in Article (14) and Clause

(2) of Article (15) of this law, the court shall order close down of the offending

(ジェトロ仮訳)

establishment for a period not exceeding six months, in addition to the

prescribed punishment.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause (1) of this Article, if the offending

establishment is a multi-section store, the section in which the offense has been

seized or related to the offending goods shall be closed down and a sticker be

fixed on the closed place or section indicating the reason of closure.

Article (19)

Without prejudice to any more severe punishment in any other law, whoever

violates any other provision of this law and its implementing regulation shall be

punished by fine not exceeding fifty thousand dirhams.

Article (20)

1. In addition of imposing the prescribed punishment the court shall, in the event

of repeating violation of the provision of Article (14) and Clause (2) of Article

(15), order cancellation of the license.

2. Subject to the provisions of the preceding clause the court may, in the event of

repetition of violation of this law, order more severe punishment or add the

close down and cancellation of the license to the punishment.

Article (21)

The officers who are determined by a resolution of the Ministry of Justice in

coordination with the Minister and the competent authority, shall have the capacity

of judicial officers for detecting the violation of the provisions of this law and its

implementing regulations and the resolutions issued for its execution.

(ジェトロ仮訳)

Article (22)

The competent authorities, with their respective areas of competence, shall be

responsible for implementing the provisions of fraud in service in accordance with

the regulations prescribed by the Council of Ministers.

Article (23)

The Council of Minister shall issue the implementing regulations and the

resolutions necessary for execution of the provisions of this law within one

hundred and eighty days from the effective date of this law.

Article (24)

Any provision which is contrary to or conflicting with the provisions of this law

shall be repealed, as well as the federal law No (4) 1979 in respect of combating

fraud and deception in commercial transactions. And the implementing regulations

and resolutions shall remain in force to the extent that they are not conflicting with

the provisions of this law until issuance of the regulations and resolutions replacing.

Article (25)

This Law shall be published on the official gazette and shall come into force from

the day following publication.

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

President of United Arab Emirates

Issued at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi

On 13 Rabi ALawal 1438 H

Corresponding to 12 December 2016

(ジェトロ仮訳)

ジェトロ仮訳

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