The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has announced the two-week closure of a phone shop located in Al Rayyan for displaying and selling counterfeit batteries bearing international trademarks.

The inspection campaign came within the framework of its efforts to monitor markets and commercial activities in order to crack down on price manipulation and uncover violations as well as counterfeit, fraudulent and substandard products, the MEC said in a statement yesterday.

The outlet was fined and closed for a two-week period in line with Article 7 of Law No 8 of 2008.

Article 7 compels suppliers to clearly display on the product’s package or label the type and nature of the item as well as other relevant data in line with the law’s implementing regulations.

The law also prohibits the display of fraudulent descriptions, advertisements and misleading statements.

An administrative closure declaration has to be published at the expense of the company or shop that commits the violation in accordance with Article 18 of Law No 8 on Consumer Protection.

The law stipulates that the closure decision shall be published on the MEC website and in two daily newspapers at the expense of the violating company, the statement notes.

The ministry has stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of the Consumer Protection Law and its regulations.

It will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to the competent authorities who will, in turn, take appropriate action against the perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.

The MEC has urged all consumers to report violations or submit complaints and suggestions to its consumer protection and anti-commercial fraud department through the call centre: 16001, email: [email protected], Twitter: MEC_QATAR, Instagram: MEC_QATAR and the ministry’s app on smartphones available on iPhone and Android devices: MEC_QATAR.

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