The Ministry of Commerce and Industry carried out extensive inspection campaigns in July 2021 to monitor the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with their obligations under laws and ministerial resolutions on consumer protection. The inspection campaigns fell 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 to protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaigns resulted in uncovering 81 different violations including displaying expired products, failing to display the prices of commodities, failing to offer a service warranty for an appropriate period, refunding customers or reoffering the service in an appropriate manner, failing to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits, Failing to issue invoices in Arabic and offering discounts without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department.
Penalties imposed on retail outlets included administrative closures and fines ranging from between QAR5,000 and QAR30,000, as per the laws and decisions regulating the work of the Consumer Protection Department.
The following is a list of violations uncovered in July 2021:
| V | Violation Type | Number |
| 1 | Failing to display prices | 6 |
| 2 | Failing to clearly display prices | 1 |
| 3 | Failing to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits | 5 |
| 4 | Failing to offer a service warranty for an appropriate
period, refunding customers or reoffering the service in an appropriate manner |
17 |
| 5 | Failing to return the commodity, providing a refund or exchanging the commodity | 1 |
| 6 | Failing to apply all the commodity guarantees | 2 |
| 7 | Failing to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity | 1 |
| 8 | Non-compliance with the conditions related to public health and safety | 2 |
| 9 | Non-compliance with the advertising format of the promotional offer that was approved by the competent department | 2 |
| 10 | Failing to clearly define the service information, features, characteristics, and pricing | 1 |
| 11 | Failing to issue invoices in Arabic | 5 |
| 12 | Failing to issue complete invoices | 2 |
| 13 | Offering a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department | 6 |
| 14 | Offering discounts without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department | 4 |
| 15 | Charging a higher price than that announced | 2 |
| 16 | Expired products | 19 |
| 17 | Increasing service prices without obtaining the necessary license from the competent authority | 4 |
| 18 | Ending the promotional campaign before its expiry date without obtaining the approval of the competent department | 1 |
| Total | 81 | |
The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints last July. They were dealt with, and necessary measures to resolve them were taken.
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 crack down on illegal practices.
The Ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and Ministerial decisions governing the work of the department to the competent authorities that will, in turn, take appropriate action against the perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry 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
