While the action against the tyre store was initiated for storing and selling expired tyres, the electrical store was penalised for selling substandard heaters, MEC explained in separate statements.
The inspection campaign comes within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to monitor markets and commercial activity in order to crack down on price manipulation as well as counterfeit and substandard products.
Inspectors from the ministry fined the electrical appliances store and ordered its two-week closure in line with article 6 of law number 8 of 2008, which prohibits the sale, display and promotion of substandard, counterfeit and fraudulent products. A product is considered fraudulent if it fails to meet the standards or has expired.
The tyre store was fined and closed for a month in line with article 7 of law number 8 of 2008, which compels suppliers to clearly display on the product’s package the nature of the item and other relevant data while prohibiting the display of fraudulent descriptions, advertisements and misleading statements.
The administrative closure is published on the ministry's website as well as two daily newspapers at the offending stores’ own expense in line with article 3 of law number 8 on consumer protection.
The ministry stated that it is determined to protect consumer rights and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crack down on all violations of the consumer protection law.
The ministry said it will refer violators of laws and ministerial decrees to the competent authorities, who will take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect the rights of consumers.
The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
