Some traders had manipulated the “country of origin” by wrapping some products using packages and bags pertaining to products from other countries, which is considered a fraudulent activity, the MEC said in a press statement.
Accordingly, the ministry fined shops for violating Article 6 of Law No 8 on Consumer Protection, which “prohibits sale, display, promotion or advertisement of corrupted and fraudulent goods”. An item is considered “corrupt or fraudulent if it is expired, unusable or does not meet the prescribed standards”.
The MEC stressed that it would not tolerate any violations of the Consumer Protection Law and its regulations and would intensify its inspection campaigns to crack down on violations.
The ministry said it would refer those who violated laws and ministerial decrees to the competent authorities, who would - in turn - take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The MEC has urged all consumers to report violations or submit complaints and suggestions through the following channels - call centre: 16001, email: [email protected], Twitter: MEC_QATAR, Instagram: MEC_QATAR and the application of the ministry on iPhone and Android devices: MEC_QATAR
The violation was detected during an inspection campaign.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) cracked down on fraudulent activities and manipulation of the “country of origin” during an inspection campaign at the central market for vegetables and fruits in Abu Hamour, Doha.
