.gif)
DOHA: The authorities have intensified monitoring on shops violating the consumer protection law. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has closed down a tyre shop in New Ghanim area for one month for selling balloon tyres that do not meet the Qatari standards and specifications. The ministry inspectors detected another 130 violations of the consumer protection law last month.
Qatar has banned the import and use of balloon tyres for passenger vehicles unless accompanied by a certificate of conformity with technical requirements specified in technical regulations namely GSO 51/2007, GSO 52/2007 and GSO 53/2007.
The tyres should also have the technical requirements mandatory for balloon tyres. The violation was detected during surprise raids conducted by the Ministry inspectors. The outlets faced temporary closure for repeating the violation, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The closure will be publicised at the expense of the violating company, as per provisions of the consumer protection law. The ministry had earlier announced the requirements to be observed while importing and selling tyres in the country. The sale of balloon tyres is banned as they put people’s lives at risk.
The tyres are behind most of the accidents on the roads and they cannot handle excessive heat or high speeds. Balloon tyres overheat at high speeds and do not stop instantly when brakes are applied at a high speed, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the ministry last month conducted intensive inspection campaigns across the country and detected 130 violations of the consumer protection law. The violations varied from non-compliance with the declared price list and failure to abide by the promotion requirements. A failure to display the prices of commodities topped the violations, with 21 cases.
The second most common violation was lack of compliance with the declared price list during promotions. The third major violation was related to description of goods and a failure to display them in the proper manner, with 20 cases each in both the categories. The penalties include administrative closure and fines ranging between QR5000 and QR 30000.
The Ministry said it is going to further intensify the campaign against such violations. The cases will be referred to the authorities concerned further action.
The ministry urged all consumers to inform the Consumer Protection Department if they come across any violation. The department is ready to receive complaints and suggestions from the public through the toll free no 16001, its twitter and instagram accounts or its smart phone applications.
The Peninsula
