The Ministry of Commerce & Industry carried out extensive inspection campaigns in October 2021, to ensure the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with laws and Ministerial decisions related to consumer protection. The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in the country, in a bid to crack down on price manipulation, uncover violations and protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaigns resulted in the seizure of (103) violations including failure to issue invoices in Arabic; not offering information related to the displayed commodity in Arabic; failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits, failure to guarantee that the performed service during a period of time is commensurate with the nature of that service, to refund the amount paid by the recipient of the service, or to perform it again in an appropriate manner; failure to provide a detailed monthly report on submitting prizes under a promotional offer, as of the draw date and until delivering the last prize; non-compliance with the form and format of the promotion advertisement approved by the competent department; making a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department; and displaying expired products.
Penalties imposed on retail outlets included administrative closures and fines ranging between QAR 5,000 and QAR 30,000, as per the laws and decisions regulating the work of the Consumer Protection Department.
The following are the types and numbers of violations for October 2021: –
|
No. |
Violation Type |
Number |
|
1 |
Failing to display prices |
1 |
|
2 |
Failing to clearly display prices |
1 |
|
3 |
Failure to issue complete invoices |
1 |
|
4 |
Failure to issue invoices in Arabic |
7 |
|
5 |
Failure to offer an Arabic version of the information on displayed commodities |
6 |
|
6 |
Failure to clearly define the service information, features, characteristics, and pricing |
3 |
|
7 |
Not placing the fish and seafood price bulletin in a prominent and visible place |
1 |
|
8 |
Failure to provide spare parts, delay in after-sales service, and failure to provide an alternative car |
1 |
|
9 |
Non-compliance of the goods or services supplied with the announced approved standard specifications |
1 |
|
10 |
Failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits |
5 |
|
11 |
Failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity |
2 |
|
12 |
Failure to guarantee that the performed service during a period of time is commensurate with the nature of that service, to refund the amount paid by the recipient of the service, or to perform it again in an appropriate manner |
15 |
|
13 |
Failure to provide a detailed monthly report on submitting prizes under a promotional offer, as of the draw date and until delivering the last prize |
6 |
|
14 |
Non-compliance with the form and format of the promotion advertisement approved by the competent department |
5 |
|
15 |
Non-compliance with conditions related to religious values, customs, and traditions |
2 |
|
16 |
Failure to comply with public health and safety conditions |
1 |
|
17 |
Non-commitment to selling local or imported fish and seafood from wholesalers to retailers by sale at a public auction |
2 |
|
18 |
Increasing prices without obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent Authorities |
1 |
|
19 |
Imposing the purchase of a commodity in certain quantities, or the purchase of another commodity alongside of it |
2 |
|
20 |
Making a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department |
12 |
|
21 |
Offering a discount without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department |
6 |
|
22 |
Describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information |
10 |
|
23 |
Displaying expired products |
12 |
|
Total |
103 |
|
The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints last October. They were dealt with, and necessary measures to resolve them were taken.
The Ministry affirms that it will strictly deal with all those who neglect their obligations under the Consumer Protection Law and its implementing regulations. It stresses that it plans to intensify inspection campaigns to crack down on such practices. It will refer all those who violate the laws and Ministerial decisions regulating the work of the Department to the competent authorities to take appropriate measures against them to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry urges all consumers to report any violations or infringements, and to send complaints and suggestions through the following channels:
– Call Center: 16001
– The Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s official social media accounts:
– Twitter @MOCIQATAR
– Instagram MOCIQATAR
