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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce intensified its inspection campaigns in April 2017 to ensure the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with Law Number (8 of 2008 on Consumer Protection. The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in a bid to crack down on price manipulation and to protect consumer rights.
The nationwide campaign by the Ministry’s inspectors resulted in 112 fines. Violations included missing price tags for products and services; false or misleading product descriptions; issuing incomplete invoices; failure to display prices in Arabic; failing to display all data pertaining to the service; failing to comply with the declared bulletin of vegetables and fruits prices; and failing to issue invoices.
The penalties resulted in administrative closures, as well as fines ranging between QR 5,000 and QR 30,000 in line with the applicable consumer protection laws. The following is a breakdown of the type and number of violations registered in April 2017:
 ViolationsNumberMissing price tags for services or products30
 
Failing to issue complete invoices9
 
Failing to display the price of services or products in Arabic9Missing or incomplete service price and description8Non-compliance with the prices of fruits and vegetables bulletin7Failing to issue invoices6Failing to supply spare parts and a replacement car delayed after sale services3Non-compliance with the need to display all product description3Failing to clearly display services and product prices and descriptions2Failing to offer service guarantees for an appropriate period or refunding customers1Failing to display the sale price before and after discounts1Failing to report defective products that may cause harm to consumers to competent authorities1Non-compliance with promotional offers1Failing to use Arabic in ads and description of goods1Failing to issue invoices in Arabic1Displaying expired products1Displaying substandard products7Charging customers higher prices than advertised2Offering discounts without obtaining the approval of competent departments4Increasing prices without approval5False or misleading product description and advertising10Total112
 
                                                                                                        
The Ministry also processed 1,051 complaints and took the necessary measures 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 violations.
The Ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities that will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urged all consumers to report violations to the Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud department through the following channels:
– Call Centre: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on social networks
         – Twitter MEC_QATAR
         – Instagram MEC_QATAR
– The application of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on iPhone and Android devices MEC_QATAR