Officials checking at one of the shops.
Some six violations were recorded by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce during a recent surprise inspection drive at Sealine and other camping areas.
The campaign included retail shops selling food, electrical materials, restaurants, bike rental shops and auto repair shops that provide services to customers in Sealine area and winter camps.
The inspection campaign comes within the framework of the ministry's aim to monitor markets and commercial activities to crack down price manipulation and protect consumer rights.
The inspection campaign recorded six violations, most of them varying between failing to announce prices of the products or services and failing to issue receipts.
These clearly violates Article (8) of 2008 on Consumer Protection, which states that the supplier is obliged to clearly include the price of the product or the service when displaying or advertising it.
Every erring dealer was fined QR6,000, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Consumer Protection Anti-Commercial Fraud department.
The ministry 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 those who violate laws and ministerial decrees would be referred to competent authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The ministry has urged all consumers to report violations to the Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud department through its social media accounts.
