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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce intensified its inspection campaigns during the month of April, 2016 in order 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 activity in order to crack down on price manipulation and protect consumer rights.
The nation-wide campaign, led and conducted by inspectors from the ministry, resulted in 78 fines. Violations included missing price tags; raising prices without obtaining the ministry’s approval; issuing incomplete invoices; failing to implement the prices of vegetables and fruits bulletin; failing to comply with the declared price list before and during promotions; displaying and selling expired products; charging consumers higher than advertised; failing to provide spare parts; delays in after sale services; failing to provide replacement vehicles and failing to refund customers,  return or exchange products.
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 2016:
 ViolationsNumberMissing price tags of products and services17Raising prices without obtaining the approval of competent departments8False or misleading product description and advertising8Issuing incomplete bills6Missing or incomplete product description5Non-compliance with the price list of fruits and vegetables7Launching promotions without obtaining the approval of competent departments1Charging customers higher prices than advertised5Expired products1Substandard products1
Expired cream products
 1Expired Silicon products1Not clearly displaying the price of services or products offered3Failing to use Arabic in ads and description of goods and services1
 
Non-compliance with the declared price list before and during promotions2Refraining from selling all or some of the discounted products 1Launching promotions without obtaining the prior approval of competent authorities4Failing to display a clear description of the services offered and their prices1Non-cooperation with judicial officers1Failing to refund customers, return or exchange items1Failing to supply spare parts, delays in after sale services and failing to provide a replacement vehicle1Violating the terms of special promotions1Missing bills1Total78
The ministry also processed 769 complaints and has taken 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, 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