11 e-commerce platforms in the country sign the “Compliance Pledge”

Ahmed Al-Sharbiny – Dubai

Yesterday, 11 e-commerce platforms in the country signed the “Compliance Pledge” with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, in a move to enhance the quality and safety of products traded in the UAE market, and as an initiative by the Ministry dedicated to e-commerce platforms, with the aim of enhancing the conformity of products displayed on e-commerce platforms with the UAE standard specifications and technical regulations. The “Pledge” stipulates that the platforms joining the Ministry’s initiative are committed to applying the highest standards of safety and security in the products offered for sale through them, which will enhance consumer confidence levels.

The ministry stressed that it aims to establish a regulatory environment that supports the best global practices in marketing products, calling on other e-commerce platforms to join this voluntary path, noting that it will evaluate the results of the initiative.

Compliance Pledge

In detail, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology launched yesterday the “Compliance Pledge” initiative, which is the first of its kind in local markets, to enhance the quality and safety of products traded in the UAE market, and to ensure that products displayed on electronic sales platforms comply with the UAE standard specifications and technical regulations.

The ministry explained in a meeting held in Dubai that the initiative is voluntary, and witnessed the joining and signing of 11 companies and private e-commerce platforms, to enhance confidence in the quality of products sold through these platforms, and to ensure their compliance with the standard specifications approved in the country, by pledging to apply the highest standards of safety and security in the products offered for sale through them.

“The Compliance Pledge aims to enhance the quality and safety standards of products displayed on electronic platforms, and is a qualitative step towards achieving the objectives of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology,” said Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. He pointed out that “the pledge is a step aimed at enabling consumers to obtain high-quality products and protect their rights.”

He added: “The joining of these platforms to the initiative represents a positive step towards enhancing levels of commitment to national standards and specifications. We call on all parties and strategic partners to support efforts aimed at maintaining the quality and safety of products displayed in the digital space, especially with the expansion of the volume of e-commerce in the UAE, according to various specialized indicators.”

Al Suwaidi continued: “The initiative comes within the framework of the agreement between the government and the private sector, with the aim of enhancing integration and providing safe and high-quality products to consumers,” indicating that the ministry aims to establish a regulatory environment that supports the best global practices in marketing products, and calls on all other e-commerce platforms to join this voluntary path, in light of the positive relationship between the ministry and various platforms, which enhances the effectiveness of this initiative.

Positive turnout

For her part, Assistant Undersecretary for the Standards and Legislation Sector at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Farah Al Zarouni, said: “The initiative is based on important standards that aim to enhance consumer confidence in products sold through e-commerce platforms in the country,” noting that “the initiative has witnessed positive response from many platforms operating in the country’s market, as it has witnessed the signing of 11 companies and e-commerce platforms.”

She added: “The results of the initiative, which is in its early stages, will be evaluated, while opportunities for its expansion will be explored in later stages.”

She explained that the importance of the “Compliance Pledge” initiative lies in enhancing the quality and safety of products traded through the growing e-commerce platforms in the UAE, especially in light of the continuous significant growth in that sector. An analysis by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, based on data from Euromonitor, indicated continued growth in this sector, whose sales increased from $2.6 billion in 2019 to $4.8 billion in 2021, while the size of the e-commerce market in the country is expected to reach more than $9.2 billion by 2026.

She pointed out that the initiative comes within the context of promoting a culture of quality and safety in products and goods sold in the country, and enhancing confidence in products manufactured within the country, which adhere to quality standards and conformity with specifications set by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and other government agencies at the state level.

She stated that the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology organizes control and awareness campaigns in cooperation with the competent regulatory authorities at the federal and local levels, in addition to facilitating the voluntary withdrawal and recall of products, and enabling consumers to identify these products withdrawn from the markets through the federal “Manea” system and the National Product Conformity Program.

Major selling platforms

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology announced that the “Compliance Pledge” was signed in the presence of representatives of major retail platforms, including: Amazon, Noon, Al-Futtaim Group (IKEA, S Hardware, Watsons, Toys R Us, Marks & Spencer), Nikai Group, Eros Electronics, Jacky Retail, Lulu International Group, Al-Ghandi Electronics, Sharaf DG, Al-Yousuf Electronics, and Samsung.