Doha - The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) carried out January intensive inspection campaigns on shops in several regions of the country, which resulted in the detection of 108 violations of the obligations stipulated in the laws and ministerial decisions concerned with consumer protection.
The ministry explained in a statement that these violations ranged from not announcing prices, not using the Arabic language in data related to the offered commodity, products with expired dates, and describing, advertising, or displaying the commodity in a manner that contains false or misinformation.
The seized violations also included non-compliance with the service guarantee carried out by the provider within a period commensurate with the nature of that service, returning the amount paid by the recipient of the service or performing it again in the correct manner, failing to record all explanatory data related to the offered commodity, and not complying with the compulsory bulletin for vegetables and fruits prices, and the violation of conditions related to religious values, customs, and traditions.
Penalties for violating stores range from administrative closure to financial fines ranging from QR 5,000 to QR 30,000, according to the laws and decisions regulating the work of the Consumer Protection Department.
The consumer protection authorities in the Ministry received several complaints during January, and they were dealt with the necessary measures taken to resolve them.
The ministry confirmed that it will be firm in the face of anyone who neglects to fulfill his obligations under the Consumer Protection Law and its executive regulations, will intensify its inspection campaigns to control such practices, and it will refer anyone who violates laws and ministerial decisions regulating to the competent authorities to take appropriate measures against him to protect the rights of consumers.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry urged all consumers to report any abuses or violations and receive complaints and suggestions through the call center 16001 and the Ministry's social media accounts. (QNA)
