Local authorities in Saudi Arabia have seized almost 3,500 cylinders of counterfeit refrigerant that was being fraudulently sold under the Honeywell Genetron brand name.
The action was part of a joint effort between Honeywell and local law enforcement. According to local authorities, the counterfeit refrigerant was marked as Honeywell's Genetron 134a and shipped to Dammam Port, Saudi Arabia, from China.
Paul Sanders, managing director for Honeywell Fluorine Products in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, said: '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. These efforts have resulted in seizures around the world.'
Over the past two years Honeywell has intensified its anti-counterfeit efforts in the Middle East. In 2011, the combined efforts of police, customs, local municipalities and other government officials resulted in the seizure in the United Arab Emirates of approximately 6,000 cylinders of materials branded as Honeywell Genetron 134a, but that actually contained dangerous toxic and flammable substances.
Honeywell continues to raise awareness among end customers about the risks of using counterfeit products. These include creating posters for garages and service stations that explain how dangerous it can be to use non-genuine products.
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, the company says.
Honeywell has actively pursued counterfeits for over 10 years with successful results in more than 20 countries covering six continents. During the past two years alone, more than 200,000 counterfeit products have been seized as a result of Honeywell working with local governments.
