Dammam authorities seize 3,500 fake Honeywell products
Counterfeit refrigerant found to have been shipped to Kingdom from China
Local authorities in the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam have seized 3,500 cylinders of counterfeit refrigerant being sold under the Honeywell Genetron brand name, the company said on Tuesday.
The seizure was part of a joint effort conducted by Honeywell and local law enforcement. Authorites said that the counterfeit product was marked as Honeywell’s Genetron 134a, and was shipped to Dammam Port from China.
“We continue to take the necessary aggressive actions in cooperation with law enforcement and other government authorities to ensure that users get the high-quality product they need as well as ensuring its safety,” said Paul Sanders, managing director for Honeywell Fluorine Products in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. “These efforts have resulted in seizures around the world.”
Over the last two years, Honeywell has stepped up its anti-counterfeit operations in the region. In 2011, through the combined efforts of police, customs, local municipalities and other government officials, more than 6,000 cylinders of Honeywell Genetron 134a were seized in the UAE alone.
Tests conducted on the fake products found that they contained dangerous toxic and flammable substances, the company said. All Genetron refrigerants go through extensive tests to assure quality and safety. These properties can be guaranteed only when buying the refrigerant from Honeywell-authorised suppliers.
Honeywell has actively pursued counterfeits for over 10 years with successful seizures in more than 20 countries covering six continents. During the last two years alone, Honeywell, working with local governments, have seized more than 200,000 counterfeit products.
