Last May, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry carried out extensive inspection campaigns to monitor the extent to which suppliers (retail outlets) comply with their obligations stipulated in the laws and Ministerial decisions on consumer protection, within the framework of the Ministry’s keen efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities across Qatar, in a bid to control prices and uncover violations so as to protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaigns resulted in releasing (188) different violations that included: 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; making promotional offers without obtaining the required licensing from the competent department; describing or advertising the commodity in a manner that includes deceptive information; failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity; failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits; and failure to announce prices, and charging prices higher than those announced.
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.
|
No. |
Violation Type |
Number |
|
1 |
Failure to display prices |
10 |
|
2 |
Failure to display prices in Arabic |
5 |
|
3 |
Failure to issue invoices |
1 |
|
4 |
Failure to issue invoices in Arabic |
7 |
|
5 |
Failure to issue complete invoices |
4 |
|
6 |
Failure to offer an Arabic version of the information on displayed commodities |
2 |
|
7 |
Failure to clearly define the service information, features, characteristics, and pricing |
1 |
|
8 |
Failure to provide a detailed monthly report on presenting prizes under a promotional offer, as of the draw date and until delivering the last prize |
1 |
|
9 |
Failure to provide spare parts for durable goods within a specified period of time, and failure to provide the announced or agreed-upon guarantees |
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 |
13 |
|
12 |
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 |
42 |
|
13 |
Non-compliance with the form and format of the promotion advertisement approved by the competent department |
4 |
|
14 |
Failure to comply with the discounted prices issued by the department due to using misleading or deceptive information |
2 |
|
15 |
Failure to commit to making draws in the presence of a judicial officer, knowing that draws should be made publicly at the time and place specified in the license issued |
1 |
|
16 |
Using subsidized flour extract (77%) in producing kinds of bread other than the Arabic and local bread |
1 |
|
17 |
Making a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department |
25 |
|
18 |
Offering a discount without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department |
8 |
|
19 |
Imposing the purchase of a commodity in certain quantities, or the purchase of another commodity alongside of it |
7 |
|
20 |
Describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false information |
19 |
|
21 |
Charging a higher price than that announced |
9 |
|
22 |
Increasing prices without obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent Authorities |
7 |
|
23 |
Expired products |
6 |
|
Total |
188 |
|
The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints last May. They were dealt with, and necessary measures to resolve them were taken.
In this regard, the Ministry stressed that it would not tolerate any negligence in terms of meeting obligations stipulated in law No. (8) of 2008 on Consumer Protection and its executive bylaws.
The Ministry is working to intensify its inspection campaigns to control violating practices, and to refer violators of laws and Ministerial decisions to the competent authorities to the needed due measures.
The Ministry also urges all citizens and residents to report any violations or infractions through the following channels:
– Call Center: 16001
– The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s social media accounts:
– Twitter @MOCIQATAR
– Instagram MOCIQATAR
