PACP launched 56 campaigns to recall cars until June 2016

MUSCAT: Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) carried out 56 campaigns aimed at recalling about 121,408 cars during the first half of this year, in collaboration with a number of automobile dealerships.

The recalls were made because of some malfunction or to make improvements in the products recalled, as indicated by the annual report for the first half of 2016 recalls, issued by the General Directorate of Consumer Services and Markets Authority Control.

Hamoud bin Said Al Jabri, in charge at General Directorate of Consumer Services and Market Surveillance explained that during the month of January, about 50,413 cars were summoned during the first half.

Also, 2,404 cars were recalled during the month of February, and 47,932 vehicles were recalled in March, in addition to 10,621 vehicles during the month of April, another 4,251 cars were recalled in the month of May, and 5,787 cars during the month of June.

He pointed out that the reasons for recalling the cars varied from defects to technical fixes that were later discovered by the manufacturer at the original pro- duction country/source, which requires them to bring the vehicles to authorised dealers of those cars around the world.

These recalls were made under the provisions of Article 27 of the Consumer Protection Act, which obliges the provider/company to stop trading the item immediately after discovering a defect in the item or service that could damage the consumer or waste his money, and to inform consumers of the defect and pull the defective item from the market immediately.

Al Jabri stressed that the body was keen to perform audits/revisions continuously for all products offered and services provided in the Sultanate’s markets, starting from maintaining the rights of consumers in line with quality and safety standards.

It is focusing its attention on the issue of cars being recalled, which has been implemented in collaboration with various companies and agencies in the Sultanate, he added.

The recalls were made because of some malfunction or to make improvements in the products recalled, as indicated by the annual report for the first half of 2016