HOW RULES OVER THE CAR SEAT YOU BUY WILL KEEP YOUR CHILDREN FROM HARM
Fines and jail terms will be used to make sure stores only sell devices that provide proper protection
Safety standards for child car seats will ensure that shops can only sell good-quality restraints, the industry’s regulator says.
Child restraints became mandatory on July 1 and strict new rules announced last week set out exactly what stores can sell.
Seats must pass crash tests and be clearly labelled by age group and weight range.
“We issued the regulations on standards because we know that once it is mandatory to use child car seats, then a lot of traders will sell different types,” said Abdulla Al Maeeni, director general of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology.
Mr Al Maeeni said the rules would protect children against less scrupulous sellers trying to make a profit by selling poor-quality goods.
“We want to safeguard our market from these substandard seats,” he said.
Importers and retailers could face heavy fines, shop closure and even jail terms if they do not comply with the regulations. Sellers have until the end of this year to comply with new rules.
“The main purpose is to keep our children safe,” said Mr Al Maeeni.
“If we don’t have the proper seats it will be no use. There will be no benefit.”
The July 1 traffic law contains significant changes to road rules, including that every occupant of a vehicle must be buckled up. Before July 1, the use of seatbelts was only mandatory for those in the front.
“We are giving time to distributors and seat providers to register with us on our website or ask for information on our Twitter account, @esmagov,” Mr Al Maeeni said.
“Distributors, companies and producers of different seats need to come to register their products.
“If by the end of the year, we find they are not complying or not withdrawing seats from the market, we will start with the fines from Dh30,000 for non-compliance and for not registering.
“Sometimes the shop might be closed and legal action may be taken. It will start with the fine and then it depends on the court if there is jail for three months or more.”
Officials will work with quality control, monitoring authorities and economy departments in different emirates to spread awareness.
Parents who have already bought car seats will be alerted through recall announcements of unsafe seats.
“Surveillance is ongoing and we are looking at the market, so if we find seats that are not compliant and should not be used we will issue a recall announcement,” Mr Al Maeeni said. “We will also ask traders to contact the consumer if they have their information.”
The seats must pass crash tests using child dummies in laboratories overseas. Instructions on how to place the seat, facing the front or rear, and details on safe installation must also be included.
“There are different kinds of crash tests overseas that check the impact of a crash from the side, front and back and then measure the seat to find out how it reacts to the accident,” Mr Al Maeeni said.
“The test checks if the seat and belt are still strong after the crash and the impact on artificial or dummy babies to find out if the seat is suitable.
“We have links with international laboratories in different countries to make it easier for the industry and cost- and time-effective. They will be directed to accredited laboratories approved by us in their country of production.
“Distributors or sellers will not be allowed to sell any product without a certificate. Our aim is that our consumers in the UAE should be able to go confidently and buy a good, safe product from the market.
“Clear labelling and user instructions are important because wrong installation of the correct seat will not fit the purpose.”
There are different kinds of crash tests overseas that check the impact from the side, front and back