Doha: Following an increase in complaints from customers, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has launched a crackdown on barber shops and beauty salons using substandard, expired and counterfeit products.
The Ministry issued a circular to managers of such outlets banning the use of such products in line with Law No. 8 of 2008 on consumer protection. The Ministry has asked barber shops and beauty salons to comply with Article 6 of the law, which prohibits the sale, display and promotion of substandard, counterfeit and fraudulent products. A product is considered fraudulent if it fails to meet the standards or has expired.
These outlets have also been asked to comply with article 7 of the same law, which prohibits the display of false or misleading product descriptions and advertisements.
The circular was issued following an increase in consumer complaints about barber shops and beauty salons using non-compliant beauty products including substandard or expired products and counterfeit cosmetics, the Ministry said in a statement.
Violations detected at barber shops and beauty salons also included the display of misleading labels on hair design and skin care products, which represent a form of fraud when it comes to the nature of the product, its structure, characteristics and contents as well as the properties and expected results from its use as stipulated on the brand’s label, said the statement.
The Ministry has warned that the products used at barber shops and beauty salons pose a great risk to customers if they fail to conform to standard specifications or have expired.
Furthermore, the substandard products pose a health hazard to customers as a result of fraud and counterfeiting in their properties and composition.
The ministry has asked the salons to inform consumers of their characteristics and potential side effects, warning them against using and the display of products in violations of laws at shops.
The Ministry said that it will not tolerate claims that such products are not intended for use and will take legal action in line with the consumer protection law, which could result in closure of the erring outlet.
"The circular falls within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to ensure the safety and health of consumers and protect their basic rights in line with article 2 of law number (8) of 2008 on consumer protection. The law guarantees consumers’ right to the use of healthy and safe goods and services as well as the right to obtain information and correct data about the goods and services purchased or used or submitted to them," said the statement.
