Ministry of Commerce and Industry cracks down on (107) violations in February

March 05, 2022
Intensive inspection campaigns to monitor supplier compliance (retail outlets) to their obligations stipulated in Law No. (8) of 2008

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry carried out intensive inspection campaigns in February 2022 to monitor the level of supplier compliance (retail outlets) with their obligations stipulated in the laws and Ministerial decisions on consumer protection. The inspections fall within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities across Qatar, in a bid to control prices and identity violations so as to protect consumer rights.

The inspection campaigns resulted in the issuance of (107) different violations, including: failure to guarantee that the performed service during a period of time is commensurate with the nature of that service, failure to refund the amount paid by the recipient of the service, or to perform it again in an appropriate manner; failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity; failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits; as well as describing acommodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information.  

The violations also included making a promotion without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department; failure to display prices; non-compliance with implementing all guarantees related to the commodity; and displaying expired products.  

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 February 2022:

No.

Violation Type

Number

1

Failure to display prices

6

2

Failure to display prices in Arabic

1

3

Failure to issue invoices in Arabic

4

4

Failure to issue complete invoices

2

5

Failure to offer an Arabic version of the information on displayed commodities

2

6

Failure to clearly define the service information, features, characteristics, and pricing

2

7

Failure to provide spare parts, delay in after-sales service, and failure to provide an alternative car

2

8

Failure to place the issued promotional offer license in a visible and prominent place on the storefront

1

9

Failure to place labels on goods included in discounts, indicating the original and reduced prices

1

10

Failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits

12

11

Failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity

14

12

Failure to provide spare parts for durable goods within a specified period of time

1

13

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

26

14

Non-compliance with the form and format of the promotion advertisement approved by the competent department

1

15

Failure to apply all commodity guarantees

6

16

Making a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department

8

17

Offering a discount without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department

4

18

Describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information

9

19

Charging a higher price than that announced

1

20

Displaying expired products

4

Total

107

The concerned consumer protection authorities in the Ministry also received a number of complaints, which were dealt with and resolved via the necessary measures.

The Ministry affirms that it will strictly deal with all those who neglect their obligations under the Consumer Protection Law and its implementing 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 Centre: 16001

– The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s social media accounts:

        – Twitter @MOCIQATAR

        – Instagram MOCIQATAR