Profeco and IFT request suspension of gray market smartphone bans

The two authorities reaffirmed their determination to formulate solutions that support consumer rights and take into account the interests of manufacturers. The organizations have implemented various awareness campaigns to warn of the risks involved in using devices that do not comply with Mexican marketing standards.

“Manufacturers are invited to form part of a working group involving various relevant actors, in order to define measures and implement actions to address the challenges posed by the gray market, and to protect the rights of users and consumers at all times.” The organizers expressed.

Manufacturers respond to Profeco and IFT

In response to the authorities’ request. Samsung stated that it would withdraw the device suspension that was implemented days ago. “In line with the request made by Profeco in cooperation with IFT, we will suspend the blocking of mobile phones coming from the gray market,” the company said.

The company expressed its willingness to participate in discussing the regulations that address the problem. In mid-September, Samsung said the industry was lobbying to amend the federal consumer protection law to end the gray market. “We are ultimately seeking to provide an explicit provision regulating this type of import,” said Daniel Pérez Serreira Santacruz, legal director of Samsung Mexico. The ultimate goal will be to obtain a law that categorically and clearly prohibits parallel imports.

Xiaomi has initiated a communication strategy to warn users about the potential risks of purchasing a phone smart phones With his signature on the gray market. “Users who have purchased this type of equipment receive notifications containing information about the risks of purchasing Xiaomi mobile phones through unauthorized channels. From the above we clarify that Xiaomi does not intend to ban any equipment“.

Estimates Competitive Intelligence Unit (CIU) indicates that every year in Mexico about 30 million new smart phones. This figure represents a value of 125 billion pesos. The consulting firm estimates that only 3% of this total belongs to the so-called gray market.