The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Municipality and Environment, has carried out surprise inspection campaigns targeting street vendors and old residences across Qatar.
The campaigns were conducted in a bid to monitor the compliance of retail shops with their obligations under Law No 5 of 2015 on Commercial, Industrial and Similar Public Shops, and Street Vendors, as well as their commitment to Ministerial Decision No 243 of 2016 on the licensing requirements and regulations to engage in street vendor activities, the MoCI said in a statement yesterday.
The inspection campaigns resulted in the imposition of 10 penalties on retail shops and street vendors who committed violations, including failure to comply with the Ehteraz app instructions, engaging in multiple business activities and failing to comply with general and specific requirements for shops, conducting a business without obtaining a licence (a car workshop in an old residence) and carrying out unlicensed street vendor activities, the statement noted. 
Five additional notices were issued to shops that committed a violation after failing to amend their status in the licences and commercial records.
The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the MoCI’s efforts to monitor markets and trade activities in Qatar and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing commercial activities in order to uncover and crack down on violations.
The ministry stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of Law No 5 of 2015 and Ministerial Decision No 243 of 2016, and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crack down on violations. The MoCI also said it will refer any party in violation of laws and ministerial decisions to competent authorities, who will, in turn, take appropriate action against the violators in order to protect consumer rights.
The ministry has urged all merchants and shop owners to adhere to applicable laws and regulations governing commercial activities, and invites them to review these laws and regulations by visiting the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s website (www.moci.gov.qa) to avoid legal accountability and penalties.
The MoCI has also urged all citizens and residents to report violations regarding registration and commercial licensing procedures through the call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, and the ministry’s app on iPhone and Android devices: MOCIQATAR.