The Ministry of Commerce and Industry carried out intensive inspection campaigns in July 2020 to ensure the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with laws and Ministerial decisions related to consumer protection. The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in Qatar in a bid to control prices and uncover violations in order to protect consumers’ rights.
The inspection campaigns resulted in cracking down on 154 violations. Violations included failing to display all descriptive data relating to the product, failing to issue invoices in Arabic, offering promotions without obtaining the necessary license, failing to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits, displaying expired products, and failing to input the stock of strategic goods in the strategic inventory management and control system, among other violations.
The penalties included administrative closures and fines ranging between QR 5,000 and QR 30,000, in line with the laws and decisions governing the work of the Consumer Protection Department.
The following is a breakdown of the type and number of violations registered in July 2020:
| Number | Violation | |
| 7 | Failing to display prices | 1 |
| 2 | Failing to use Arabic in descriptive data relating to the product | 2 |
| 1 | Failing to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of fish and seafood | 3 |
| 8 | Failing to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits | 4 |
| 1 | Failing to offer service warranty for an appropriate period, refunding customers or reoffering the service in an appropriate manner | 5 |
| 1 | Failing to comply with safety-related conditions and the terms of the document or contract signed with the consumer | 6 |
| 5 | Failing to input the stock of strategic goods into the strategic inventory management and control system | 7 |
| 1 | Failing to exchange the product or refund customers | 8 |
| 27 | Failing to note all descriptive data relating to the product | 9 |
| 1 | Failing to separate discounted products from other goods | 10 |
| 19 | Failing to issue invoices in Arabic | 11 |
| 1 | Non-cooperation with judicial officers | 12 |
| 3 | Failing to clearly define the service’s data, features, characteristics, and prices | 13 |
| 9 | Failing to comply with public health and safety requirements | 14 |
| 1 | Failing to adhere to religious values, customs and traditions | 15 |
| 1 | The use of subsidized flour (extracted at 77%) in the production of bread other than “Baladi” and Arabic bread | 16 |
| 5 | False or misleading product display, description and advertising | 17 |
| 4 | Charging customers higher than the advertised price | 18 |
| 37 | Offering promotions without obtaining the necessary license from the concerned department | 19 |
| 3 | Offering discounts without obtaining the necessary license from the concerned department | 20 |
| 17 | Expired products | 21 |
| 154 | Total |
Competent authorities at the Ministry received a number of complaints in July and took the necessary measures to address them.
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 decisions governing the work of the department to competent authorities who will, in turn, take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urged all consumers to report violations, infringements and process complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
– Call Centre: 16001
– Email: info@moci.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on social networks
– Twitter @MOCIQATAR
– Instagram MOCIQATAR
– The application of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on iPhone and Android devices MOCIQATAR
