The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) calls on suppliers, merchants, and individuals in charge of shops and shopping centres to abide by their obligations in terms of protecting consumer rights and to refrain from trading goods bearing slogans and symbols that violate Islamic values, and traditions.

The MOCI sent the following circular to suppliers and merchants:

On refraining from trading goods bearing logos and symbols that are non-compliant with Islamic values, customs, and traditions

1. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry calls on suppliers, merchants, and individuals in charge of shops and shopping centers to abide by their obligations in terms of protecting consumer rights and to refrain from trading goods bearing slogans and symbols that violate Islamic values, customs, and traditions.
2. Obligations of all merchants and major shopping centers operating in Qatar under the circular: Coordinating with import sources before supplying any products for the purpose of trade in the Qatari market and ensuring that the products neither promote nor carry logos, designs, symbols or expressions that do not comply with the teachings of the Islamic religion, or violate common decency, customs, and traditions
3. Committing to refraining from displaying any goods in shop fronts that would violate common decency, as well as the nation's traditions and customs, retraining from using inappropriate gifts and packaging materials or marketing and promoting products bearing slogans, symbols, or expressions with immoral connotations that violate the community's religious and cultural values Refraining from publishing any images, audio clips, visual or other materials with immoral or indecent content: 3

Penalties for violating the circular

1. A fine of up to one million Qatari riyals.
2. Administrative closure for a period of three months.
3. Cancellation of the commercial license and banning the violator from practising any commercial activity.

The circular comes within the framework of the Ministry's efforts to control markets and ensure that suppliers, traders, and individuals in charge of shops in Qatar abide by their obligations in terms of protecting consumer rights, preserving Islamic values, as well as respecting Qatar's customs, traditions, and cultural heritage. In this regard, the Ministry assures that it is working in coordination with the concerned authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent the circulation of products that violate basic consumer rights

#MOCIQATAR calls on suppliers, merchants, and individuals in charge of shops and shopping centers to abide by their obligations in terms of protecting consumer rights and to refrain from trading goods bearing slogans and symbols that violate Islamic values, and traditions.#Qatar pic.twitter.com/CVlF9fftiL

— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) November 30, 2021

Source: MOCI
Cover image credit: Qatar Offerings

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Nabeela

Content Writer

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