Traders found to be selling products that do not comply with a new specifications and standards law currently under discussion at Bahrain’s Shura Council could face fines or jail time.

The new government-drafted bill will give the Industry and Commerce Ministry the power to remove suspect products from the market pending laboratory tests, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

If the products pass the ministry's tests then the government will shoulder all the expenses, but if faults are found then the merchant will have to bear the cost of tests.

All non-compliant products can then be seized under the new law and any traders found to be cheating specifications and standards will receive up to a year's imprisonment, a fine of up to BD1,000 ($2,632), or both.

The same punishment will be applied to anyone attempting to prevent inspectors from checking products or tampering with official seals and content labels.

More severe punishments of up to three years in jail and fines of up to BD5,000 will be handed down to anyone trying to make non-compliant products look compliant.

The Shura Council voted yesterday for this new law to take precedent over any existing laws that contradict it or have more lenient punishments.

Its financial and economic affairs committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati said a national committee for specifications and standards will be formed to draw up general policy relating to the law with representatives from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Further discussions on the law will continue next week. - TradeArabia News Service