The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has conducted a series of intensive inspections in the local market ahead of Eid al-Adha to ensure there is no unjustifiable hike in prices and counterfeit products are not being sold.
The campaign covering the Central Market, candies and nuts shops, gifts shops, restaurants and eateries and accessories and clothes outlets in various parts of Doha, Rayyan, Maither, Al-Khuraytat, and Umm Salal resulted in the detection of 23 violations, mainly regarding not displaying prices in a clear manner, not issuing purchase invoices and receipts and selling non-standard products.
MEC inspectors also conducted an intensive search campaign on women’s beauty saloons at Al-Khor, Doha, Wakrah, Hilal, Land Mark, Rayyan, and Muaither, where a number of violations were spotted regarding a hike of prices without prior approval from the Ministry, use of expired products and counterfeit products. It has been noticed that a number of these saloons are selling wigs made from artificial hair, claiming they are made from natural hair.
At the Central Market, MEC has made an agreement with the vegetable and fruit suppliers to fix the prices at certain limits during the Eid period, such as Jordanian tomatoes at QR3.5 per kg, cucumber at QR4 per kg, lettuce at QR6 per kg and Saudi carrots at QR3 per kg, besides a number of other products. In addition, the inspectors visited the fish and sheep market to ensure compliance with prices and quality standards.
The MEC had earlier launched an initiative in co-operation with Widam Food Company to sell to locals two varieties of Arab sheep at subsidised prices. Some 12,500 heads were imported. The Syrian sheep is priced at QR1,350 and the Jordanian at QR1,080.
MEC has warned suppliers and traders not to exploit the shopping rush of the Eid period and abide by the set rules and regulations. Consumers can contact MEC for complaints and recommendations at: the toll-free hotline: 8005000, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar , and MEC application on iPhone and Android: MEC_QATAR, or alternatively through MEC machines at the various shopping malls around the country.
All the municipalities of the country have completed their preparation plans and programmes for Eid al-Adha. The Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning has raised its readiness for Eid and dedicated all its services and monitoring sections to provide service ahead and during the Eid holidays.
Special focus has been given to monitoring the slaughtering of the sacrificial sheep in the slaughterhouses, ensuring that the sheep and the meat are fit for consumption.
