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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has intensified its inspection campaigns during the third week of the holy month of Ramadan, targeting retail outlets and service providers across Qatar in a bid to ensure the compliance of suppliers (commercial shops) with law number (8) of 2008 on consumer protection and law number (12) of 1972 on mandatory pricing and profit margins.
 
The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the ministry’s Ramadan initiatives under the theme #Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb,” the Arabic for “#the_least_we_can_do.” The ministry has intensified its campaigns ahead and throughout the holy month of Ramadan in a bid to monitor markets and commercial activity in order to crack down on price manipulation and protect consumer rights.
 
The inspection campaign, which targeted over 1400 outlets including men’s and women’s clothing and accessories stores, grocery stores, women’s and men’s salons, the inspection of promotions, and subsidized consumer goods throughout Ramadan, which resulted in 19 fines.
 
Violations included price hikes without obtaining approval, charging consumers higher than the advertised price, missing price tags and failing to abide by the price list of fruits and vegetables.
 
Violations of law number (8) of 2008 result in penalties ranging between administrative closures and fines between QR 3,000 and QR 1,000,000.
 
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, who will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
 
The ministry urges 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