The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has launched unannounced inspection campaigns targeting retail outlets 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 Ramadan initiatives under the theme #Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb,” the Arabic for “#the_least_we_can_do.” The ministry has intensified its campaigns ahead of and during 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 149 retail outlets, resulted in 11 fines. Violations included fraud in terms of product weight and missing descriptive labels in accordance with article (7) of law number (8) of 2008 on consumer protection.
The law stipulates that suppliers of goods shall clearly display on product labels a clear description of goods and their ingredients as well as any warnings pertaining to product use and shall refrain from posting any misleading or false statements.
Violations of law number 8 of 2008 result in penalties ranging between administrative closures and fines between QR 3,000 and up to 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
