Ministry detects 127 violations in September
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) conducted extensive inspection campaigns in September to ensure the compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) with laws and ministerial decisions related to consumer protection.
The campaigns are part of the ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in a bid to crack down on price manipulation, uncover violations and protect consumer rights.
A total of 127 violations were uncovered.
Penalties imposed on retail outlets included administrative closures and fines ranging between QR5,000 and QR30,000, in accordance with the laws and decisions regulating the work of the Consumer Protection Department.
Following is the full list of the type and number of violations in September:
Describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information: 24 violations
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: 13
Expired products: 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: 9
Failure to issue complete invoices: 8
Failure to write all the explanatory information about the displayed commodity: 7
Offering a discount without obtaining the necessary licence from the competent department: 7
Having a promotional offer without obtaining the necessary licence from the competent department: 6
Increasing prices without obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent department: 6
Failure to offer an Arabic version of the information on displayed commodities: 5
Failure to issue invoices in Arabic: 5
Non-compliance with the form and format of the promotion advertisement approved by the competent department: 5
Failure to comply with the mandatory price bulletin of vegetables and fruits: 4
Not placing a list of the original prices, along with the reduced prices approved by the department, at a visible place in the shop: 3
Failure to clearly define the service information, features, characteristics and pricing: 3
Failure to display prices: 2 Failure to provide spare parts, delay in after-sales service, and failure to provide an alternative car: 2
Failure to apply all the commodity guarantees: 2
Non-compliance with conditions related to religious values, customs and traditions: 2
Charging a higher price than that advertised: 2
The authorities concerned with consumer protection at the ministry received a number of complaints in September.
These were dealt with and necessary measures to resolve them were taken.
The MoCI has affirmed that it will deal strictly with all those who neglect their obligations under the Consumer Protection Law and its 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 to protect consumer rights.
The ministry has urged all consumers to report any violations or infringements, and to send complaints and suggestions through the call centre: 16001, and its social media accounts – Twitter: @MOCIQATAR and Instagram: MOCIQATAR.