​Violations included failing to abide by the mandatory price bulletin, failing to display service prices, missing price tags and missing data labelsMinistry of Economy and Commerce penalizes a number of food, vegetables and fruit shops and service centers
 
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has launched surprise inspection campaigns targeting a number of food outlets and service centers across Qatar in order to monitor the compliance of suppliers (shops selling food, vegetables and fruits as well as service centers) with the provisions of law number 8 of 2008 on consumer protection and the daily mandatory price bulletin issued by the ministry.
 
The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the Ministry’s Ramadan initiatives under the theme #Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb.” The ministry traditionally intensifies its inspection campaigns before and throughout the holy month of Ramadan as part of its efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in order to uncover and crack down on violations and protect consumer rights.
 
The inspection campaigns, which targeted 329 outlets resulted in 28 penalties for violations including failing to abide by the mandatory price bulletin, which is a violation of ministerial resolution number 1 of 2011 on regulating the sale of fruit and vegetables.  Other violations included failing to announce service prices, missing data labels , weight differences, failing to announce the products data in Arabic and the sale of expired products, which represent violations of article 6, 7, 8 and 17 of Law No. 8 of 2008 on Consumer Protection.
 
Violations of Law No. (8) of 2008 on consumer protection can result in administrative closure and financial penalties ranging from QR3,000 to QR1 million.
 
The ministry stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of Consumer Protection Law and its regulation. 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 or submit complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
 
– Call Centre: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on social media networks
– Twitter MEC_QATAR
– Instagram MEC_QATAR
-The App of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on smart phones available on iPhone and Android devices MEC_QATAR