The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, has carried out a surprise inspection campaign targeting street vendors in the Najma area of Doha.
The campaign was conducted in a bid to monitor the compliance of suppliers with their obligations under Law No 5 of 2015 relating to industrial and commercial shops, public stores and street vendors, as well as their commitment to ministerial Decision No 243 of 2016 in line with licensing regulations and requirements for street vendors, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The inspection campaign comes within the framework of the MoCI’s efforts to monitor compliance with laws and regulations governing commercial activities in order to uncover and crack down on violations, the statement notes.
The campaign resulted in 93 penalties for violations by street vendors who conducted business activities without obtaining a commercial licence. The violators were referred to the competent authorities for legal proceedings.
Within the framework of its efforts to regulate the business environment and create a stimulating investment environment for both private sector and entrepreneurs, the MoCI had earlier launched an initiative to regulate the work of street vendors by specifying permitted activities, as well as the requirements, standards and conditions for issuing a licence.
The initiative aims to improve the quality of services offered to the public and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing the various commercial activities.
The MoCI has stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of Consumer Protection Law No 5 of 2015 and Ministerial Decision No 243 of 2016, and would intensify its inspection campaigns to crack down on violations. Further, the ministry has said it will refer any party in violation of laws and ministerial decisions to the competent authorities, who will, in turn, take appropriate action against the violators in order to protect consumer rights.
The MoCI has urged all citizens and residents to report violations regarding registration and commercial licences through the call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, and the ministry’s application on iPhone and Android devices: MOCIQATAR
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