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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has carried out intensive inspection campaigns during the month of October 2016 to monitor the compliance of the suppliers with the obligations stipulated by law No. 8 of 2008 on Consumer Protection, which comes in the framework of the ministry’s keenness to monitor markets and commercial activities in a bid to crack down on price manipulation and protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaigns, conducted by inspectors from the ministry in various regions of the state, resulted in 76 violations; varied between the failing to include clearly all the information related to the displayed product, failing to clearly identify service information, including its advantages, characteristics and prices, using false and deceptive information when describing, advertising or displaying the product, failing to announce product/service prices , selling and displaying expired products, failing to comply with the prices of fruits and vegetables stated in the daily bulletin, and reducing the weight of local and Arabic bread.
It should be noted that the fines issued by the ministry to the violated outlets included closures and financial penalties starting from 5000QR up to 30000QR, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Consumer Protection Anti-Commercial Fraud department.
The following table shows the type and number of violations issued during the month of October 2016:NumberType of Violation14Failing to clearly identify service information, including its advantages, characteristics and prices12Failing to include clearly all the information related to the displayed product5Failing to announce product/service prices4Failing to comply with regulations regarding the selling of vegetables and fruits produced locally or imported from wholesalers to retailers through the auction.3Failing to announce product/service prices in Arabic2Not complying with the service guarantee that was carried out over a period of time suitable for the service type and the repayment of the charged amount back to the customer1Failing to clearly announce product/service prices1Failing to place the reductions’ license in a visible place at the forefront of the shop1Failing to comply with the list of selling prices before and after promotions1Failing to use the Arabic language in declarations and advertisements related to the product1Not complying with the rules of exchange and refund of the product4Failing to comply with the prices of fruits and vegetables stated in the daily bulletin4Selling and displaying expired products2Raising the prices of Australian Meat1
Raising the prices without an approval from the competent authority.
 4Charging a price higher than the price that was declared1Issuing promotions without obtaining the necessary approval from the competent authority1Issuing reductions without obtaining the necessary approval from the competent authority11Using false and deceptive information when describing, advertising or displaying the product1Reducing the weight of local and Arabic bread.2Poor storage of goods76Total
                                                       
In turn, 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 crack down 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