The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will today launch a campaign against the use of air conditioners that consume high levels of energy.

The campaign will cover factories, warehouses and shops that make, store and sell air conditioners to ensure that their products adhere to the ministry’s standards and specifications.

“The ministry is launching the initiative following a two-year awareness campaign focusing on the specifications of air conditioners that are to be sold in the market,” said Fahd Al-Jalagil, undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the ministry.

Shops found selling poor-quality air conditioners that are in violation of the specifications set by the ministry may incur a fine of up to SR1 million, he said.

The trader’s name will be publicized and his case would be handed over to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution because such conduct is considered as tantamount to sale of counterfeit products, a local newspaper reported.

Ministry officials visited countries that export air conditioners last October and banned the import of low-quality units in September.

The ministry also banned the manufacture of low-quality units in the country.

The ministry had told manufacturers and distributors that poor-quality devices would have to be re-exported outside the Kingdom and that they would be given a grace period.

The ministry had seized more than 36,000 air conditioners, some 8,500 of whom were on display in the market without any stickers specifying the energy efficiency of the devices.

It is mandatory that the front side of a device should not carry any other stickers, officials said.