The Ministry of Commerce and Industry 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 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 uncovering 127 different violations, including describing the commodity, advertising it, or displaying it in a manner that contains false or deceptive information; failing to provide a detailed monthly report on submitting prizes under a promotional offer, as of the draw date and until delivering the last prize; displaying expired products, failing 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; making discounts and promotional offers without obtaining the necessary license from the competent department; and failing to issue complete invoices.
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 authorities concerned with consumer protection at the Ministry received a number of complaints last September. 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 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.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry