Last month, the Ministry of Commerce &Industry carried out extensive inspection campaigns. These were to monitor the extent to which suppliers (retail outlets) comply with their obligations stipulated in the laws and Ministerial decisions concerned with consumer protection, within the framework of the Ministry’s keen efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in the country, in a bid to control prices and uncover violations to protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaigns resulted in seizing 112 different violations. These included displaying expired products; describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information; and 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.
The violations also included failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity, non-compliance with the price bulletin of vegetables and fruits and non-compliance with conditions related to religious values, customs and traditions.
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 November 2021: –
|
No. |
Violation Type |
Number |
|
1 |
Failure to issue complete invoices |
3 |
|
2 |
Failure to issue invoices in Arabic |
4 |
|
3 |
Failure to offer an Arabic version of the information on displayed commodities |
3 |
|
4 |
Failure to post prices on the social networking sites of the shop |
4 |
|
5 |
Failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits |
5 |
|
6 |
Non-compliance with conditions related to religious values, customs and traditions |
4 |
|
7 |
Failure to apply all the commodity guarantees |
2 |
|
8 |
Failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity |
10 |
|
9 |
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 |
|
10 |
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 |
17 |
|
11 |
Making a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department |
2 |
|
12 |
Offering a discount without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department |
3 |
|
13 |
Possession and sale of subsidized food supplies (to non-beneficiaries) |
1 |
|
14 |
Describing the commodity, advertising it or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information |
18 |
|
15 |
Charging a higher price than that announced |
2 |
|
16 |
Expired products |
28 |
|
Total |
112 |
|
The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints during November. They were dealt with, and necessary measures to resolve them were taken.
The Ministry affirms that it will deal strictly 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 curb such practices. It will refer all those who violate the laws and Ministerial decisions regulating the work of the Department to the relevant authorities to respond appropriately against them to protect consumer rights.
The Ministry urges all consumers to report any violations or infringements, and to send complaints and suggestions through the following official channels:
– Call Center: 16001
– The Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s social media accounts:
– Twitter @MOCIQATAR
– Instagram MOCIQATAR
