Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) registered 81 violations after intensive inspection campaigns of shops selling vegetables and fruits in various regions of the country in August.
According to a statement issued yesterday, the ministry explained that these campaigns monitor the compliance of suppliers (shops) with their obligations stipulated by the laws and ministerial decisions on consumer protection as part of its keenness to monitor markets and commercial activities in the country to control prices and detect abuses to preserve consumer rights.
The MoCI pointed out that the violations varied between non-compliance with the prices of the compulsory bulletin for vegetables and fruits, making discounts and promotions without obtaining a prior licence from the competent department, and not providing a detailed report on the delivery of prizes for the promotion from the date of the draw to the delivery of the last prize.
The ministry added that the violations also included not announcing the prices, describing the item, advertising it or displaying it in a way that contains false data, charging a higher price than what was announced, not clearly announcing the prices, and not complying with the form and format of the advertisement for the promotion approved by the administration.
It confirmed taking legal measures and referred the cases to the competent authorities to take the necessary action, indicating that the consumer affairs authorities at the ministry received several complaints in August, and that the cases were dealt with and necessary measures were taken to resolve them.
The ministry stressed that it will be firm in the face of all those who neglect to fulfil their obligations stipulated by the consumer protection law and its executive regulations, and the law of compulsory pricing and profit determination, noting that it will intensify inspection campaigns to control violating practices, and refer violators of laws and ministerial decisions to the competent authorities to take the necessary measures regarding them.
The ministry urged all consumers to report any transgressions or violations through the communication channels of the call centre and its accounts on social networking sites.
