Who will take care of the consumer? Monday, 19 July 2010 03:43

The way the announcement to recall two types of Head and Shoulders shampoo from the market because it contains the toxic compound 1,4 dioxane (which causes cancer, kidney failure and damage to the liver), was made, is to put it mildly, tardy.

It is one of the most popular shampoo brands in the market and is used by a large number of people here.

Many questions arose in our minds as soon as we knew of the decisions. How many samples were tested? What percentage of 1,4 dioxane did the shampoo contain? It mentioned the products containing above 10ppm but did not say what was the safe limit. What kind of procedure was used? Which laboratory did conduct the test? What standard did the authorities use to recall the product? All these were missing in the announcement.

Most importantly, as consumers, what are our rights? Who will take the responsibility for this recall? Should it fall on the Ministry of Environment, where the Department of Standards and Specifications belong? Should it be the responsibility of the distributor of the product? Or should both parties share the blame?

The way the recall was announced, it looks the authorities are not taking the responsibility.

In an interview on Qatar TV yesterday, Dr Mohd Saif Al Kuwari said the department received the results of the tests on Thursday afternoon.

Since the matter was urgent enough to warrant a recall, why did they wait for two days before making a public announcement?

In the interview, neither did he mention the 1,4 dioxane percentage contained in these products nor did he say about the method of testing.

He did not say what corrective measures should be taken by consumers and if there was a laboratory in Qatar that could do a test on people who have been using this product for years.

What does that tell about authorities’ concern about the heath, safety and well-being of the ordinary consumer?

We would also like to raise a point: does the Department of Standards and Specifications have a standard and procedure for recalling products from the market?

If they do, then they should have informed the manufacturer first about the recall so that the manufacturer can inform their distributor and store outlets. What happened now is that the consumer is caught between the standard authorities and the manufacturer of the product.

We don’t want to let this pass by without any reaction from our government.

We would like to appeal to the Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to take serious action against both parties.

After all the value of a human life is greater than temporary pecuniary gains.

I would also like to raise this matter to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). How is it that products approved by one GCC country with the stamp of quality, is being recalled in another GCC country? Where is the unity of the GCC? If we cannot cooperate with other GCC states in such matters, then how much can we cooperate in other issues?

I urge Qatar to invest in setting standards and putting guidelines for products and services. A country cannot develop without proper a procedure to follow. It is for this reason that detractors still call us a “third world country”.

In order for our country to reach its potential, we need to have guidelines on how things should be done. Having standards is a way to bring order and organisation which in turn would help our country to progress from just “developing” to a truly “developed” state.