Online service for Qatar bakeries launched

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has launched an electronic service for the licensing, management and operation of bakeries. The system will enable bakery owners to easily complete the procedures without visiting the Ministry.

The service, which is accessible through the Ministry’s website, enables applicants to issue new bakery licences, amend and renew existing licences, temporarily suspend a licence, as well as to reactivate and cancel a bakery licence.

Bakeries can also apply for an increase in their monthly flour quota, request a flour delivery and seek approval for the distribution of subsidised flour; a service that is only reserved for owners of bakeries producing Arabic and local (baladi) bread.

The service enables applicants to issue a bakery license for companies with an active commercial registration and a bakery facility licence at a sub-location.

The user must submit an application for the issuance of a licence, including data relating to the bakery and required documents. Once the application is submitted, it is reviewed by the competent authority at the Ministry, which dispatches inspectors to examine the bakery site.

After examining the bakery site, the department’s director gives the approval. Once all fees are paid, the licence is printed.

Owners can request the amendment of the bakery’s contact information or designated manager. As for the amendment of the bakery’s site or trade name, it takes place automatically when amending the commercial register or commercial license.

The service also enables to renew a bakery’s expired licence or apply for the renewal of a licence that will expire in 30 days, provided that the commercial registration and license is active.

Applicants can also submit a request to temporarily suspend a bakery’s licence for a variety of reasons, such as labour shortage and maintenance operations.

The service also enables to reactivate a bakery’s licence in case the owner had previously submitted a temporary suspension request.

To cancel a bakery’s licence through its website the user should submit an application to cancel a licence, select the licence to be cancelled, identify the reasons behind the request, upload all required documents, and print a summary of the application.

Once the application is reviewed by the competent authority at the Ministry, the cancelled licence is printed.

The service allows the distribution of subsidised flour in line with quota allotted for each bakery. The user should submit an application to request permission to obtain subsidised flour, identify the applicant, select the bakery’s license, specify the flour quantity to be dispended and pay the fees through Doha Bank.

The Ministry said the flour, purchased through one or several orders, can be collected once the authorisation is issued.

The user can request an increase in the monthly quota for flour in a bid to increase bread sales or add new sale contracts.

The user should submit an application to increase his monthly flour quota, specify the bakery ‘s licence, specify the requested quantity increase, upload required documents and print the application summary.

Once the application is reviewed, the competent authority at the Ministry decides whether to approve or reject the request. The competent authority also determines the increase and whether it applies permanently or for a month only. If the application is approved, the bakery owner can proceed to request the additional quantity by applying for a “permission to dispense” and “receive flour” services.

Once the fees are paid, the user can request the delivery of the purchased flour. Flour purchased through several orders can be delivered by installments. The user should select the bakery’s license number, determine the requested quantity, and print and submit the flour delivery application. Al-Matahin Company then delivers the flour and collect delivery fees.