The Ministry of Commerce and Industry conducted extensive inspection campaigns in September to ensure the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with laws and Ministerial decisions related to consumer protection. The campaigns come within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in the country in a bid to crack down on price manipulation, uncover violations and protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaigns resulted in uncovering 127 different violations, including describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information; failing to provide a detailed monthly report on submitting prizes under a promotional offer, as of the draw date and until delivering the last prize; displaying expired products, failing to guarantee that the performed service during a period of time is commensurate with the nature of that service, to refund the amount paid by the recipient of the service, or to perform it again in an appropriate manner; making discounts and promotional offers without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department; and failing to issue complete invoices.
Penalties imposed on retail outlets included administrative closures and fines ranging between QAR 5,000 and QAR 30,000, as per the laws and decisions regulating the work of the Consumer Protection Department.
The following are the types and numbers of violations for September 2021: –
| No. | Violation Type | Number |
| 1 | Failure to display prices | 2 |
| 2 | Failure to issue complete invoices | 8 |
| 3 | Failure to issue invoices in Arabic | 5 |
| 4 | Failure to offer an Arabic version of the information on displayed commodities | 5 |
| 5 | Not placing a list of the original prices, along with the reduced prices approved by the Department, in a visible place in the shop | 3 |
| 6 | Failure to clearly define the service information, features, characteristics, and pricing | 3 |
| 7 | Failure to provide spare parts, delay in after-sales service, and failure to provide an alternative car | 2 |
| 8 | Failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits | 4 |
| 9 | Failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity | 7 |
| 10 | Failure to guarantee that the performed service during a period of time is commensurate with the nature of that service, to refund the amount paid by the recipient of the service, or to perform it again in an appropriate manner | 9 |
| 11 | Failure to apply all the commodity guarantees | 2 |
| 12 | Non-compliance with conditions related to religious values, customs, and traditions | 2 |
| 13 | Failure to provide a detailed monthly report on submitting prizes under a promotional offer, as of the draw date and until delivering the last prize | 13 |
| 14 | Non-compliance with the form and format of the promotion advertisement approved by the competent Department | 5 |
| 15 | Increasing prices without obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent department | 6 |
| 16 | Charging a higher price than that advertised | 2 |
| 17 | Making a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department | 6 |
| 18 | Offering a discount without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department | 7 |
| 19 | Describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information | 24 |
| 20 | Expired products | 12 |
| Total | 127 | |
The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints last September. They were dealt with and necessary measures to resolve them were taken.
The Ministry affirms that it will deal strictly with all those who neglect their obligations under the Consumer Protection Law and its regulations. It stresses that it plans to intensify inspection campaigns to crack down on such practices. It will refer all those who violate the laws and Ministerial decisions regulating the work of the Department to the competent authorities to take appropriate measures against them to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urges all consumers to report any violations or infringements, and to send complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
– Call Center: 16001
– The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s social media accounts:
– Twitter @MOCIQATAR
– Instagram MOCIQATAR
