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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce intensified its inspection campaigns in September 2017 to ensure the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with law number 8 of 2008 on consumer protection. The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in a bid to crack down on price manipulation and to protect consumer rights.
The campaign by the ministry’s inspectors across Qatar resulted in 64 fines. Violations included failing to comply with the price bulletin of fruit and vegetables; missing price tags; failing to advertise the product or service in Arabic; failing to issue invoices in Arabic; increasing prices without obtaining the approval of the competent department; offering discount without obtaining the necessary permit; and false or misleading product descriptions and advertising.
The penalties included administrative closures and fines ranging between QR 5,000 and QR 30,000 in line with the applicable consumer protection laws. The following is a breakdown of the type and number of violations registered in September 2017:
 ViolationNumberNon-compliance with the prices of fruits and vegetables bulletin6Failing to display the product or service description5Failing to advertise the price of the product or service in Arabic3Failing to issue invoices in Arabic12Failing to display original prices next to discounted prices as approved by relevant departments3Failing to display product data and descriptions in Arabic5Failing to display a complete description of the product2Failing to offer service warranty for an appropriate period, refunding customers or reoffering the service in an appropriate manner1Failing to clearly display service prices, labels and descriptions4Expired products1Charging consumers higher than the advertised price3
 
Offering promotions without obtaining the approval of competent departments5Offering discounts without obtaining the approval of competent departments1Increasing prices without obtaining the approval of competent departments8False or misleading product description and advertising4
Shortage in weight of Arabic bread
 1Total64
 
The ministry processed and took the necessary measures to resolve 1,061 complaints in September.
 
The ministry stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of the Consumer Protection Law and its regulations, and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crackdown on violations. The Ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities that will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urged all consumers to report violations to the Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud department through the following channels:
– Call center: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on social networks
         – Twitter MEC_QATAR
         – Instagram MEC_QATAR
– The application of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on iPhone and Android devices MEC_QATAR