Pepsi, Coke 300-mm cans to be withdrawn

UAE authorities will begin Monday withdrawing Pepsi and Coca Cola 300-mm cans from the local market after they violated consumer protection rules by reducing the can size without prior official approval.




The Ministry of Economy said it would take those cans off the shelves at all shops and marketing outlets in the second largest Arab economy in collaboration with local departments in the country’s seven emirates.



Addressing reporters on Sunday, a Ministry official said Pepsi and Coca Cola, the world’s largest beverage producers, violated rules when they reduce the size of the Dh1.5 can from 355 mm to 300 mm and removed the price tag.



“We agreed to their request to market such cans provided their size is 355 mm and the price is printed on them….but they reduced the size and took the price tag off the cans,” said Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the consumer protection division at the Ministry of Economy.



“What the two companies did is an acceptable fraud and cheating….since they reduce the can size and maintained its price, they simply increased its price in violation of the consumer protection laws.”



He said the Ministry had mounted an inspection campaign after receiving public complaints that the two firms had reduced the can size without cutting its price. “We consider this as deception of consumers which must be stopped.”