The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) on Wednesday met with representatives of retail outlets across Qatar to make sure basic consumer goods are sold at the prices fixed by it throughout Ramadan. The meeting comes after the ministry announced price caps on more than 50,000 food and non-food products throughout the Holy Month.
The list of shopping malls and large retail outlets that are part of the initiative include Al Meera, Carrefour, Lulu, Family Food Centre, Masskar, Quality, Safari, Spinneys, Food Palace, Al-Safir, Saudi Hypermarket, Megamart, Al Rawabi Supermarket; Grand Hypermarket, Grand Mart, Al-Duhail complex and Food World. The price caps are the latest in a series of initiatives launched by the ministry to mark Ramadan under the theme"Aqal Min al Wajeb", which in Arabic means"the least we can do". The initiative comes within the framework of the ministry's efforts to maintain balanced and stable prices, and prevent any unjustified increases in the prices of commodities and consumer goods during the Holy Month.
The price cap falls on more than 50,000 food and non-food items, including poultry, eggs and their derivatives, frozen meat and its derivatives, milk (fresh, condensed and powdered), dairy products, tea, coffee products, sugar, halawa, jam, legumes, cereals, rice and its derivatives, biscuits, potato chips, mineral water, fresh and canned juices, canned food, edible and cooking oil, milk, baby food, baby diapers and sanitary napkins of all kinds, personal hygiene products and household detergents, tin foil, preservatives, tissue paper, and household items of all kinds.
]The ministry urged all shopping malls and retail outlets across the country to maintain stable prices on food and non-food items and refrain from increasing prices without obtaining the approval of the committee that sets price caps and profit margins in line with Article 2 of Ministerial Decision Number (8) of 2013, which regulates price hikes on commodities and services.
The ministry stressed that it will not tolerate any violations of the Consumer Protection Law number (8) of 2008 and its regulations, and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crack down on violators. The ministry said it would refer those violating laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against them in order to protect consumer rights. The ministry has also urged consumers to report any violations they encounter.
source: Qatar Tribune
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