Ministry of Commerce and Industry cracks down on 252 violations during November 2020

December 09, 2020
During intensive inspection campaigns to monitor the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) to their obligations stipulated by Law No. (8) of 2008

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry intensified its inspection campaigns in November 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 theMinistry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in the country, in a bid to crack down on price manipulation, uncover violation and protect consumer rights.

The inspection campaigns resulted in seizing 252 different violations, including: failing to issue invoices in Arabic, displaying expired products, failing to comply with public health and safety conditions, failing to display all data relating to the product, making discounts without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department and failing to input the stock of strategic goods in the strategic stock management system, as well as other violations. Penalties imposed onviolating retail outlets included administrative closures and fines ranging between QR 5,000 and QR 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 November 2020:

V

Violation Type

Number

1

Failing to display prices

1

2

Failing to use Arabic in descriptive data relating to the displayed product

5

3

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

8

4

Failing to offer service warranty for an appropriate period, refunding customers or reoffering the service in an appropriate manner

7

5

Failing to comply with public health and safety conditions

20

6

Failing to input the stock of strategic goods in the strategic stock management system

13

7

Failing to provide the required strategic goods and failing to meet safety stock requirements in terms of items

1

8

Failing to provide the authorized and agreed upon commercial stock in the appendices of the storage contract

1

9

Failing to apply all the commodity guarantees

10

10

Failing to provide repair, maintenance or service contracts after sales

1

11

Failing to display all data relating to the product

17

12

Failing to comply with set prices for subsidized Australian lamb

2

13

Failing to adhere to religious values, customs and tradition

1

14

Failing to issue invoices

3

15

Failing to issue invoices in Arabic

63

16

Failing to issue complete invoices

3

17

Failing to clearly define the service’s features, characteristics and prices

3

18

Inconformity of products to the approved and announced standard specifications

4

19

Imposing the purchase of a commodity in certain quantities, or the purchase of another commodity alongside of it

2

20

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

17

21

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

16

22

Expired products

40

23

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

7

24

Producing Arabic and local bread using subsidized flour extract (77%)

4

25

Difference between amounts of food supplies in warehouses and those disbursed

2

26

Charging a higher price than that announced

1

Total

252

The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints in November. They were dealt with, and necessary measures were taken to resolve 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 illegal practices. The Ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and Ministerial decisions governing the work of the department to competent authorities that will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order 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 social media accounts

        – Twitter @MOCIQATAR

        – Instagram MOCIQATAR