Dubai: The UAE's Ministry of Economy has ordered removal of certain cans and bottles of Pepsi and Coca Cola from the market within one month, saying that the companies have reduced quantities without prior permission.
The decision was taken after meeting between the Ministry and local departments following complaints the two multi-national companies have reduced the size of their cans or bottles without prior approval.
The meeting concluded that reducing the size but maintaining the price was a surprise to the ministry and other authorities concerned and a violation of the country's consumer protection law.
Meanwhile, a statement from the consumer protection department, said both companies were selling their products without putting the price or the Arabic labelling of the ingredients on the products, in clear violation of Article (8) of the Consumer.
"Both Pepsi and Coca Cola have violated the rules by reducing the size of the Dh1.50 can from 355ml to 300ml and removing the price tag," said Hashem Al Nuaimi, Head of Consumer Protection Department at the ministry.
He also said if the two beverage producers fail to set the prices of cans/bottles according to their volumes, legal action will be taken against them under the consumer protection law.
According to Al Nuaimi, the companies had earlier applied for volume changes in their products without affecting the prices but it was a surprise to see they reduced the size of cans but maintained the old price.
The price should also have been reduced according to the size of the can. On Tuesday, the consumer protection Department at the Ministry of Economy said the removal would take a month to complete.
In a statement to UAE's official news agency WAM it added that the US-based soft drinks giants were in violation of a resolution of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection and the Consumer Protection Law.
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