In a move aimed at regulating e-commerce and protecting consumer rights in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has called on the public to share their comments and suggestions on the regulation’s draft.

The document will be put on the ministry’s website until Feb. 19.

The statutes, once they are final, will be applicable to all e-commerce practices in the Kingdom, whether they are goods or services. It will also regulate all commercial advertisements posted on electronic media outlets.

A series of measures to ensure the safety of online transactions have also been included in the draft, as well as provisions to protect consumers in case of fraud.

According to the outlined regulations, merchant data, including name, means of communication and address, must be disclosed to consumers. Merchants must also submit a statement including the terms and conditions of the contract with the consumer, as well as an invoice indicating purchase cost, fees and delivery dates.

The ministry will supervise all parties involved in the sector, including online stores, auctioneers and mediators. Ordinances also stipulate sanctions against violators, which vary from warnings and cancellation of commercial registration, to shutting down shops and fines of up to SR1 million.