Dubai, February 21 (Khaleej Times):  More than 549,000 duplicate perfumes and personal care products valued at Dh4.64 million were seized after the Department of Economic Development — Dubai (DED) raided a warehouse in Dubai.

Duplicate personal care products pose a health risk to consumers, said Ibrahim Behzad, Senior Director of the Intellectual Property Protection Section at the DED.

Duplicates of at least 23 well-known international brands were recovered in the raid. Over 126,000 duplicate perfumes; and 423,000 cosmetic products were seized.

The raid is part of the efforts of the Intellectual Property Protection Section of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division to safeguard the rights of the owners of brands. The DED raids warehouses on basis of complaints forwarded by trade brand owners or their representatives.

Behzad praised the efforts of trade brand owners, who participate effectively in keeping the emirate’s markets free of fake and imitation products. The DED, he said, has intensified its joint inspection visits to combat the “menace of trade fraud and duplication of products”.

He said trade fraud, infringement and duplication pose a “threat to the economy and cause damage to consumers and traders”.