​The Ministry of Economy and Commerce launched an unannounced inspection campaign targeting butcher shops across the country 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 latest initiatives ahead of the holy month of Ramadan under the theme “#Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb,” the Arabic for “#the_least_we_can _do.”
 
The ministry traditionally intensifies its inspection campaigns ahead and throughout the holy month to monitor markets and commercial activity in a bid to crack down on price manipulation and protect consumer rights.
 
The inspection campaign, which targeted 134 butcher shops, resulted in 14 fines. Violations included selling expired meat, failing to announce product prices and using inaccurate product labels in violation of article (8) of law number (8) of 2008 on consumer protection. Article (8) of the law stipulates that “suppliers shall display the price of any product on sale either on the product itself or in a prominent place” while article (6) of the same law prohibits the sale, display or promotion of fraudulent or corrupt products. A product is considered fraudulent if it is expired or fails to meet standards.
 
Violations of the consumer protection law number (8) of 2008 result in penalties that range from administrative closures and fines from 3,000 riyals and up to 1 million riyals.
 
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