Consumer Protection Act, 2054 (1998) Preamble: Whereas, it is expedient to make provisions for protecting consumers from irregularities concerning the quality, quantity and prices of consumer goods or services, ensuring that no one lowers or removes the attributes or usefulness of consumer goods or services, preventing circumstances in which monopolies and unfair trade practices may lead to an increase in prices, as well as false and misleading propaganda regarding the use and usefulness of consumer goods or services, selling, supplying, importing, exporting and storing safe and quality consumer goods or services, and protecting the rights and interests of consumers through the establishment of an agency for redressing the hardships of consumers, and thus maintaining the health, convenience and economic welfare of consumers. Rights Protected: Every consumer shall have the following rights: (a) Right to be protected from the sale and supply of consumer goods and services which may harm life, body, health and property. (b) Right to be informed about the prices, attributes, quantity, purity, quality, etc. of consumer goods and services so as to be safe from unfair trade practices. (c) Right to be assured of an opportunity to choose consumer goods and services at competitive prices as far as possible. (d) Right to be assured that an appropriate agency will hear matters concerning the protection of the rights and interests of consumers. (e) Right to be heard and compensated against exploitation and grevances hardships resulting from unfair trade practices. (f) Right to consumer education. Complete Act: http://www.lawcommission.gov.np/en/prevailing-laws/func-startdown/292 (Nepal Law Commission)
UAE: Protection of Consumers (Law No. 24/2006)
In respect of Executive Regulation to the Federal Law no. 24 of 2006
In respect of PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS
Article (1)
In implementation of the provisions hereof, the following words and expressions shall, unless otherwise required by the context, have the meanings shown opposite:
- The State : The State of the United Arab Emirates
- The Ministry : The Ministry of Economy
- The Minister : The Minister of Economy
- The Committee : The High Committee for Consumer Protection
- The Department : The Department for Consumer Protection
- Competent Authority : The local competent authority within the concerned Emirate to which the implementation of Law no. (24) of 2006 and the provisions hereof are entrusted.
- Approved Standard Specifications : The specifications approved by the Emirates Authority for Standards & Specifications.
- Consumer : Any natural or juridical person receiving any goods or service, with or without consideration, to satisfy his
personal need or the needs of others - Provider : Any natural or juridical person providing a service or information, or manufacturing, distributing, trading, selling, supplying, or exporting any goods or involved in the production or the trading thereof.
- Principal Provider : The producer or provider who supplies goods and services to the distributors, other than consumers.
- Promoter : Any natural or juridical person promoting any goods or service, publicising the same through various advertising
and publicity media. - Goods : Any industrial, agricultural, farm, or recycled product, including raw materials and components/ingredients of the
product. - Service : Any work performed by any body to the consumer, whether or not with consideration.
- Price : The sale price, rental value, or charge for usage of goods or service.
- Re-call : The withdrawal of any goods, in case a defect is found therein, by the provider or through the concerned body in
the State or the country of origin, or in any other state. - Recalled Goods : The goods withdrawn within the State or the country of origin, or any other state.
- Defect : Any fault in the designing, processing, or manufacturing of any goods, its non-suitability, deformation, or damage emerging before, during or as a result of use, or due to non-conformity or non-compliance sufficiently with the Approved Standard Specifications, the warranty, or specifications declared or to be declared by the provider; or any acknowledgement or advertisement relating to or posted on the goods.
- Warranty : The written or implicit acknowledgement made by the provider, or their representatives, that the goods or service,
subject of warranty, is free from defects, in conformity with the Approved Standard Specifications, together with their undertaking to repair any defect or fault affecting the goods or service within a specific period of time. - Durable Goods : The goods that can be used or utilised for many years.
Article (2)
The basis for identifying extraordinary pricing shall be as under:
1. Inflation rate within the State.
2. The price for the goods or service over the past periods.
3. The average prices within the State.
4. The average prices within the neighbouring states.
5. The price for the goods or service within the neighbouring states.
6. The average rate of increase in the price for the goods or service.
7. The foreign currency exchange rate at the time of importing the goods or raw materials.
8. Complaints filed by consumers with the Department.
Article (3)
The Department shall prepare studies and reports on extraordinary circumstances and crises within the market; identify the reasons for extraordinary increase of prices and shall present the same to the Committee to present recommendations as to measures necessary to control such increase in prices.
The Department may refer to any natural or juridical persons of expertise in this domain.
Article (4)
In case of any extraordinary circumstances or crisis in the market that may require swift actions to control extraordinary increase in prices, the Minister may, under recommendations from the Committee, take the necessary steps to protect the consumers’ interests and to avoid them any harm.
Article (5)
The following events shall, in particular, constitute a state of monopoly:
1. Sale of goods or services for prices below cost to create a state of monopoly in the market, which will cause damage to
consumers.
2. Formation of alliances by more than one provider thus causing harm to the national economy or consumers’ interests.
3. Agreement, explicit or implicit, by and among providers to fix, reduce, or increase prices in a declared or clandestine manner causing harm to the national economy or consumers’ interests.
4. Agreement by and among competitors upon dividing the market amongst themselves on geographical or sales-volume
basis.
5. Purchase by the provider of competitive goods or services from the market with the intent to control prices.
6. Refrain from, halting, or restricting production, supplies, or presentation of goods or services.
7. Laying conditions by the provider upon a consumer to purchase an additional goods or service other than that in
question.
Article (6)
Practices, agreements, or contracts – whether written or verbal, explicit or implicit – shall be prohibited in case the purpose of such practices, agreements or contracts, or the effect thereof, gives rise to any state of monopoly.
Article (7)
The Department shall take the necessary procedures and measures in accordance with the provisions of Law and this Regulation and the resolutions handed down in implementation thereof against any monopoly practices or dealings, which cause damage to the national economy or consumers.
Article (8)
The rights of consumers shall include the following:
i. Right of protection against products, production operations, or services causing harm to health or safety.
ii. Right to be provided with the facts that assist them in proper purchases and consumption.
iii. Right to select from among a number of alternative goods and services at competitive prices and with quality control.
iv. Right to have his opinion heard, his interests represented before official and non-official bodies, and his opinions
considered in developing goods and services.
v. Right to satisfy his basic needs of basic goods and services, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education.
vi. Right of compensation and fair settlement of his lawful claims, including compensation for inferior or unsatisfactory goods or services, or any practices harming consumers.
vii. Right to be educated and to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to careful selection of goods or services; to be aware of his basic rights and responsibilities and how to avail of the same through sustainable awareness programmes.
viii. Right of living in proper environment.
Article (9)
The Department shall entertain complaints from consumers, in coordination with the local authorities, and shall initiate review, investigation, and examination procedures, and hand down the proper decision in this respect in accordance with the provisions of Law and this Regulation.
Any party having interest may complain against the decision handed down by the Department before the Minister within fifteen days from the date of being notified of such decision. Such complaint shall be in writing and on the form prepared by the Department, in which the complainant’s capacity and cause of objection, and it shall be signed by the complainant or his legal representative. Complaint shall cause the decision to be suspended until the complaint is ruled upon, in approval or dismissal. Any party having interest may further object the ruling handed down in the complaint before the competent court.
Article (10)
A provider shall adopt the procedures stipulated for herein to recall goods from the local markets or consumers in the following events:
1. A defect is found by him in the goods.
2. Reports or studies prove the presence of a defect in the goods.
3. Complaints are received from consumers or the concerned bodies for the presence of a defect in the goods.
4. A memorandum is issued by the Ministry for the recall of the goods.
5. Recall procedures are initiated outside the State for the same goods.
6. It is established that the goods is not in conformity with the Approved Standard Specifications.
Article (11)
The provider shall notify the Department in writing not later than fourteen (14) days of any recall of goods; provided that such notice shall include the following information:
i. Name of goods and provider, and the country of origin.
ii. Coloured representation (photo) of the goods and the part defected therein.
iii. Detailed accurate description of the defect and the causes of which it appeared.
iv. Quantity sold and the quantity to be recalled.
v. Type and nature of probable damages upon consumers.
vi. Procedures adopted by the provider to recall the goods.
vii. Manner of announcing the recall, together with the duration and timings of such announcements.
viii. Procedures to be adopted by the provider in relation to the defective goods.
ix. The time span expected to remedy the defect, provided that the circumstances and interests of consumers are taken into
consideration.
The Department shall open a ‘recall file,’ which shall include the information set out in this article. The Department may add any other information or procedures it may deem necessary to the recall of defective goods, according to the goods type and nature.
Article (12)
The provider shall, in case of recall of any goods, replace or repair the goods, refund its price, or replace or repair the defective part free of charge, regardless of the warranty period, according to the type and nature of the goods and the nature of the defect found therein.
Article (13)
The provider shall bear all the costs of transportation of the defective goods, dispatch of technicians to replace or repair the defective part and all the costs entailed in the recall of the goods.
Article (14)
The provider shall, within thirty days from the initiation of the recall process, provide the Department with a report for the goods repaired or replaced, the defective parts repaired, or those for which the prices are refunded; provided that such report shall include the following:
i. The quantity sold;
ii. The quantity recalled;
iii. Quantity of goods repaired, replaced, or whose prices are refunded;
iv. The procedures to be adopted to avoid such defect, if possible.
Article (15)
The provider shall entertain complaints from consumers and settle the same. In case a fault is repeated on more than three occasions, he shall notify the principal provider of the same and forward a copy of such notice to the Ministry.
Article (16)
The Department shall, under a decision from the Minister and in coordination with the concerned bodies, take the procedures for recalling defective goods at the provider’s expense in the following events:
1. Failure to take the recall procedures by the provider.
2. Reluctance or delay by the provider in taking the recall procedures in the case where it is believed that the defective goods pose likely risk or harm to consumers.
3. Difficulty in identifying or reaching the provider.
Article (17)
As an exception to the provisions of the above article, the Department shall take the recall procedures for defective goods in necessary cases where there exists threat to consumer; and the provider shall bear the cost of recall.
Article (18)
The Department shall, in coordination with the concerned bodies, follow up with the goods being recalled within the State or abroad; and shall regularly inform the Committee of the recall process taking place.
Article (19)
In case the Department receives any complaint or report for any defect in any goods, the Department shall investigate the same; and in case it is established that such defect is in existence, it shall notify the provider that it is mandatory to recall the goods within the time limit laid down by the Department according to the nature of such goods.
Article (20)
The concerned bodies, consumers, and any party having interest may apply to the Department for the recall of any defective goods; provided that such application shall be accompanied by supporting evidence. The Department shall investigate the contents of the application and take necessary action in its respect.
Article (21)
The provider shall announce the recall of any defective goods as per
the following conditions:
1. Advertise in two local daily newspapers at least twice, provided that one of them is issued in Arabic, not later than 24 hours from being notified of the recall; and also on the Ministry’s website.
2. The advertisement shall not be less than 15 cm × 15 cm.
3. The advertisement must include the following information:
a. Name and address of the provider;
b. The trademark of the goods;
c. Name of goods and country of origin;
d. Description of defect;
e. The instructions consumers should follow to avoid any likely harm as a result of using the goods;
f. The instructions consumers should follow to have the goods repaired, replaced, or its price refunded;
And the Department may specify any other medium, duration, and timings.
Article (22)
In case the provider fails to recall the defective goods in accordance with this Regulation, while aware of the existence of a defect therein, this shall constitute a case of commercial fraud as per the provisions of the Federal Law no. (4) of 1979 referred to above; and the Department shall refer the matter to the Public Prosecution to institute criminal proceedings against the provider.
Article (23)
The provider shall (if necessarily required) recall the defective goods outside the State according to the procedures adopted in such countries; provided that the provider shall notify the Department in writing of the procedures of such recall.
Article (24)
Consumers shall have the right to select the manner of remedying any defective goods, either by way of replacement, repair, or refund of price; provided that the type and nature of defective goods together with the time to be taken in remedying the defect shall be taken into consideration. The consumer shall, according to the type and nature of defective goods together with the time to be taken in remedying the defect, be entitled to obtain a substitute goods to avail thereof free of charge until the remedy procedures are completed.
Article (25)
The provider shall, before carrying out any repair or modification works to the defective goods, notify consumers in writing and free of charge of the estimated cost of repair and the validity period for his offer.
The provider shall also, after completing the repair, specify in the invoice issued by him the parts replaced and their prices, whether such parts are new, used, or overhauled. The provider shall bear the cost of labour charges and provide a warranty to the replaced parts. Warranty for electric and electronic goods shall not be less than three months; and in durable goods not less than six months from the date of delivery after repair. In this case, the warranty shall not cover any
improper use of the goods.
Article (26)
The provider offering used or overhauled goods or those suffering a certain defect not causing any harm to consumers health or safety shall declare the condition of such goods clearly thereon and at the place he is carrying on his activities; and he shall also indicate thereto in the contract entered into or the invoice issued by him.
Article (27)
No person shall be permitted to advertise in any medium any goods or service in such manner leading to deceiving or confusing
consumers.
Article (28)
The provider shall, upon offering any goods for trading, observe to post on its cover or container a label in clear readable meaningful Arabic and in a noticeable manner, which label shall include:
i. Type, nature and components/ingredients of the goods;
ii. The name of the goods;
iii. Date of production or packing;
iv. Date of expiry;
v. Net weight;
vi. Country of origin (name of state without abbreviations, and must the name must be accompanied by the phrase ‘made in’ and no other state’s flag, than that of the country of origin, shall be displayed).
vii. Exporting country, if any;
viii. Method of use, if possible;
ix. Proper measuring or weighing unit.
And the provider shall enclose within the container a detailed statement in Arabic for the components, ingredients, specifications, usage directions, and risks involved.
The provider shall, not later than one year from the date of this Regulation, reconcile his status in harmony with this article for the goods already imported.
The Minister may recommend any additional information on the goods, where a resolution shall be passed by the Cabinet.
Article (29)
The provider shall, upon offering/displaying any goods or service, post the price thereon in the local currency and in a noticeable manner; or advertise the same in a prominent manner in the place where the goods or service is offered/displayed.
The provider shall reconcile his status in harmony with this article not later than two months from the date of this Regulation.
Article (30)
No provider shall be permitted to exercise any form of discrimination among consumers while selling any goods or service, whether in terms of price or quality.
Article (31)
Consumers shall have the right to obtain a date-bearing invoice, which shall include the following information:
1. Name and address of provider;
2. Description of goods;
3. Sale unit;
4. Quantity or number of units sold;
5. Price of goods in the local currency.
Article (32)
The service provider shall offer warranty for the service provided by him within a specific period corresponding to the nature of such service, otherwise be committed to refund the amount paid by the recipient, or provide another service in the proper manner.
Article (33)
The provider shall guarantee the quality of the goods or services, the availability of the specifications specified or the conditions imposed by the consumer in writing. He shall also guarantee the latent defects which may diminish the value of the goods or service, or render the same unusable for the purposes for which it is produced according to its nature or the terms of the contract entered into by the provider and consumer.
Article (34)
The provider shall provide the after-sale services, including spare parts, maintenance for durable goods, for a period not less than five years, or according to the nature of goods.
Article (35)
Unless specifically stipulated for in this Regulation, the warranty period for services and various categories of goods provided to consumers shall be as per the terms and conditions of the contract entered into by them.
Article (36)
Save the provisions of Articles 28 & 29 in this Regulation, providers operating in the State at the time this Regulation comes into force shall, not later than six months from the date this Regulation comes into force, reconcile their respective status in harmony with this regulation and the provisions of the Federal Law no. (24) of 2006 as referred to hereinabove.
The Minister may, in case of any provider failing to reconcile and expiry of the time limit, suspend such provider’s activities furthermore not more than one week and refer the matte to the competent court to take necessary action.
Article (37)
The Minister shall issue the resolutions necessary to the implementation of the provisions of this Regulation.
Article (38)
This Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force from the date this Resolution is issued.
(Signed)
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister
Issued by us on:
Date: Rabie I 10, 1428 AH
Corresponding to March 29, 2007 AD
Source: https://ded.abudhabi.ae/en/Consumer-Protection/laws-and-regulations
Other Relevant Links:
Pakistan Consumer Protection Laws
Pakistan Consumer Protection Laws have been laid down separately by different states, namely:
The Islamabad Consumer Protection Act, 1995
The NWFP Consumer Protection Act, 1997
The Baluchistan Punjab Consumer Protection Act,2003
The Punjab Consumer Protection Act,2005
The Sindh Consumer Protection Act,2007
Basically, all the Consumer Protection Laws intend to provide for protection of various rights:
- Right of protection.
- Right of representation.
- Right of compensation.
- Right of information.
- Right of healthy environment.
- Right to choose.
- Right to basic necessities.
- Right of education.
More info: http://www.crcp.org.pk/
Japan Consumer Laws
Consumer Contract Act 2000
Japanese Consumer Law is mostly covered under Consumer Contract Act, 2000 which lays down the following objective:
The purpose of this Act is to protect the interests of consumers, and thereby contribute to the stabilization of and the improvement in the general welfare and life of the citizens and to the sound development of the national economy, in consideration of the discrepancy in quality and quantity of information and the negotiating power between consumers and business operators, by permitting a rescission of manifestation of intentions to offer or accept contracts made by consumers when they misunderstood or are distressed by certain acts of business operators, and nullifying any clauses, in part or in whole, that exempt the business operators from their liability for damages or otherwise that unfairly harm the interests of consumers in addition to providing a right to qualified consumer, organization to demand an injunction against business operators, etc. for the purpose of preventing the occurrence of or the spreading of damage to other consumers.
It is arranged in the following order:
Chapter 1 General Provisions (Articles 1 – 3)
Chapter 2 Consumer Contract
Section 1 Rescission of the Manifestation of Intention to Offer or Accept a
Consumer Contract (Articles 4 – 7)
Section 2 Nullity of Consumer Contract Clauses (Articles 8 – 10)
Section 3 Auxiliary Provisions (Article 11)
Chapter 3 Injunction Demand
Section 1 Right to Demand an Injunction (Article 12)
Section 2 Qualified Consumer Organization
Subsection 1 Certification of Qualified Consumer Organizations, etc. (Articles
13 – 22)
Subsection 2 Services Involved in Demand of an Injunction, etc. (Articles 23 –
29)
Subsection 3 Supervision (Articles 30 – 35)
Subsection 4 Auxiliary Provisions (Articles 36 – 40)
Section 3 Special Provisions of Court Proceedings, etc. (Articles 41 – 47)
Chapter 4 Miscellaneous Provisions (Article 48)
Chapter 5 Penal Provisions (Articles 49 – 53)
A PDF copy of the same can be downloaded here.
Qatar: Consumer Protection Law No (8) of 2008
01 Chapter I – Definitions (1-1)
Article 1
In applying the provisions of this Law, the following words and phrases, the meanings assigned to them, unless the context otherwise requires:
- Ministry: The Ministry of Economy and Trade.
- Minister: The Minister of Economy and Trade.
- Competent Management: the administrative unit competent ministry.
- Consumer: everyone who gets a good or service, paid or unpaid, fulfilling the needs or personal needs of others, or are being treated or hired them.
- Provider: Both offers the service or make a good or distributed or traded or sold or issued by, or imported by or interfere with the production or circulation, in order to submit it to the consumer or dealing or contracting with them in any way.
- Declared: both announce this item service, or promoted by itself or by others using various means of advertising.
- Item: Each product industrial, agricultural or animal or transformational, including the initial elements of materials and components included in the product.
- Service: all the work provided by any party to the consumer, whether it paid or without pay. Price: The price of the sale or the rent or use.
- Drawback: each deficiency in the value of goods and services or utility according to end their intended, leads to deprive the consumer in whole or in part from utilizing them as prepared for it, including shortages which results from an error in the handling of the commodity or stored, and all that unless the consumer cause in hindsight.
02. The second quarter consumer rights (2-4)
Article 2
Basic consumer rights guaranteed under the provisions of this law, and prohibited for any person to conclude any agreement or practice any activity that would prejudice those rights and in particular the following rights: –
1 – the right to health and safety at its normal use of goods and services.
2 – the right to obtain information and correct data about the goods and services purchased or used by or submitted to him.
3 – the right to free choice of goods and services which meet the quality requirements shoddy.
4 – the right to respect for religious values, customs and traditions.
5 – the right to obtain knowledge on the protection of legitimate rights and interests.
6 – the right to participate in associations and private institutions, councils and committees related to its consumer protection.
7 – the right to bring lawsuits for anything that might prejudice or damage to his or her rights or restricted. , and without prejudice to the requirements of international conventions to which it is a party.
Article 3
The consumer has the right to require a fair compensation for the damages suffered by him or his money as a result of the purchase or use of goods or services received, and void any agreement to the contrary.
Article 4
Subject to the provisions of Law No. (12) for the year 2004 on associations and private institutions, associations may be established to protect the consumer aims to:
1 – consumer information and awareness and education.
2 – to contribute to the rationalization of consumption and household spending.
3 – to express the point of view of consumers with relevant official bodies and reporting practices harmful to the interests of the consumer and request its intervention to stop such practices when appropriate.
4 – to contribute to the creation of a relationship of trust and cooperation between consumer and provider and to participate in dialogue and consultation with the concerned authorities.
5 – to defend the interests of the consumer.
6 – Conduct studies and research related to consumer protection and dissemination.
03. The third quarter obligations provider (5-17)
Article 5
Provider is committed to returning merchandise with the response value or replaced or repaired free of charge in the event of the discovery of defective or were not in conformity with the standards prescribed or purpose for which it had been contracted for.
Article 6
Prohibits the sale or display or provide or promote or advertise any goods to be fraudulent or corrupt. The Item fraudulent or corrupt, if they do not conform to the specifications prescribed standard or were unusable or expired validity.
Article 7
Provider is committed to the presentation of any commodity trading that shows on its cover or its packaging, clearly, Item type, nature and components, and all the relevant data, and so on, as determined by the executive regulations of this law.
If the use of the goods shall be risky to draw attention to it apparently. prohibited provider Item Description or advertised or displayed in a manner that contains false or deceptive statements.
Article 8
Provider is committed to the presentation of any commodity traded note the price it is visible or advertised prominently displayed in place of Item. For the consumer the right to get an invoice dated include determining the type of commodity and the price and quantity of any other data determined by the executive regulations of this law.
May be a decision of the competent department to identify some of the goods that enough to advertise prices that allows the provider to the consumer the possibility to know their prices in a clear and specific.
Article 9
Subject to the provisions of Law No. (8) for the year 2002 on the organization of work of commercial agents, all committed to a commercial agent or distributor to implement all the guarantees provided by the product or commodity to replace the principal agency.
If you took the implementation of safeguards set forth in the preceding paragraph, a period exceeding fifteen days, committed to the commercial agent or distributor to provide a similar product to the consumer at no charge used to be the implementation of those safeguards.
Article 10
Subject to the provisions of Law No. (19) of 2006 on the protection of competition and prevent monopolistic practices, may not be the provider that hides any commodity or refrain from selling them with a view to control the market price or to impose purchase certain amounts of them or buy another commodity with or to charge a higher price the price of which has been announced.
Article 11
The provider to determine a clear way data service provided by the advantages and characteristics and prices.
And is committed to ensuring the service carried out during the period of time commensurate with the nature of the service and return the amount paid by the recipient of the service, or performance again properly.
Article 12
Provider is committed to its contracts include a commitment to reform, maintenance or after-sales service and return the item within a certain time of the appearance of the defect.
Article 13
Ensures provider matching the commodity or service provided to the consumer with the approved standards advertised, and is asking for non-compliance with the conditions relating to public health and safety.
Article 14
Committed provider immediately discovered a defect in the product or service would harm the consumer with the use of the product or use the service to inform the competent authority of the ministry, and the consumer, the potential harm and how to prevent them and to withdraw the defective goods from the market immediately and advertise it as determined by the executive regulations of this law.
Article 15
Committed provider in the case of sale of a commodity or service in installments, before contracting to provide the following data to the consumer:
1 – the sale price of the commodity or service in cash 0.2 – the sale price of the commodity or service in installments. 3 – extended by installments possible. 4 – the number of installments for each period and the value of each installment. 5 – total cost of the sale in installments. 6 – Amount Almtaan paid in advance if any.
Article 16
Asks the provider for damage resulting from the use of commodity and consumption, also ask about the lack of spare parts for durable goods during the specified period of time and the failure to provide the guarantees stated or agreed with the consumer, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Regulations of this law.
If the item is the responsibility of the locally produced product and the seller of solidarity, according to the rule of the previous paragraph.
Article 17
Must be declarations and statements provided for in Articles (7), (8), (11) of this chapter in the Arabic language, and may use
04. The fourth quarter penalties (18-22)
Article 18
Without prejudice to any severer penalty provided by law, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine of not less than five thousand riyals and not exceeding fifty thousand riyals, or either of them, every person who violates any of the provisions set forth in the articles of Chapter III of this law.
Exempt declared responsibility when the information is contained in the Declaration of art can not be verified, and the provider may be running out. penalty shall be doubled in case of repetition, and is the defendant, if he committed a similar offense within five years from the date of the end of the implementation of the sentence or terminating the lapse of time . considers all the crimes stipulated in this law, similar to the cases of recidivism. penalty shall be a fine of not less than fifteen thousand riyals and not exceeding one hundred thousand riyals, if not alert the provider to the seriousness of the use of the good or service apparently resulted in the damage.
Article 19
Without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for by the law, anyone who is acting in any way in the reserved materials stipulated in Article (25) of this law, imprisonment for a period not exceeding two months, or a fine equivalent to the value of the goods that have been reserved by disposition to face illegal.
Article 20
Punishable in charge of the actual management of the legal person offending the same penalty provided for in the two preceding articles if proven aware of the violation and the breach of duties imposed on him by that Department has contributed to their occurrence.
And be a moral person jointly liable for the fulfillment of what governs its fines and compensated if the violation has been committed by one of its employees, or in his name or on his behalf.
Article 21
The court in the case of conviction in one of the crimes stipulated in this law, to spend as well as the prescribed penalty, confiscation or destruction Item infringing materials and tools used in production, and the closure of the shop or the place in which they occurred crime for not less than one month and not exceeding three months , and to publish a summary judgment of conviction at the expense of the convict in two daily.
Article 22
May not bring a criminal action or to take any action for crimes stipulated in this law except with the written permission of the minister or his authorized representative.
The Minister may or whoever reconciliation in any of the crimes stipulated in this law, before moving the criminal case or during its consideration and before the season by virtue of a final, compared to the performance of an amount not less than twice the minimum fine not exceeding twice the maximum. entails reconciliation expiration the criminal case.
05. The provisions of the General Chapter V (23-30)
Article 23
This is without prejudice to the provisions of the law, the terms of reference of the Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology related to consumer protection in the areas of telecommunications and information technology.
Article 24
Void stipulation in a contract or document, document, or other things that comes to contract with a consumer, if such a clause exempting the provider from any of its obligations set forth in this law.
Article 25
Permissible in the case of strong reasons to believe that there is a violation of the prohibition set out in Article (6) of the Act, set the suspect material, and temporarily impounded at the owner regard and under his responsibility. The five samples taken at least with a view to analyze.
Each sample is placed inside Herz received two of them to the person concerned, and thus frees the record contains all the actions taken.
Without prejudice to the right of the person concerned is in progress on the competent court to release the reserved goods, released by law if there was no court order to support the reservation during the thirty days following the day setting.
Article 26
Determine the executive regulations of this law classes and periods necessary to correct the situation in line with the provisions of this law.
The Minister in the case of non-correct the situation after the expiration of the period specified stop facility for the conduct of their business for a period not exceeding ten days and refer the matter to the Court on the closure of the facility and the disposition of the infringing goods.
Article 27
The employees of the ministry who issued Bndbam decision of the Attorney General in agreement with the minister, the status of law enforcement officers, to adjust and to prove irregularities committed in violation of the provisions of this law.
Article 28
The Minister shall issue the executive regulations of this law and the decisions necessary to implement it, and to be issued these decisions continue to work decisions and regulations currently in place are not in conflict with the provisions of this law.
Article 29
Law No. (2) of 1999 referred to.
Article 30
All competent authorities, each within its own jurisdiction, the implementation of this law. And published in the Official Gazette.
Under the law, a consumer is defined as any person or legal entity who:
- Obtains a product or service for personal needs or the needs of others.
- Is dealt with or contracted for such product or service.
The scope of protection covers products and services that are free of charge.
A supplier is defined as any person who provides and distributes, trades in, sells exports, imports or is involved in the production or circulation of the goods and services.
Consumer Bill of Rights
The basic rights of consumers are:
- The right to health and safety in the ordinary use of products and services.
- The right to obtain correct information on products and services.
- The right to file suits on any breach or restriction of their consumer rights.
A consumer is entitled to request a fair compensation for any damage to him/herself or property as a result of buying or using the concerned product or service. Accordingly, the supplier is obliged to refund the value of the product or replace or repair it without charge if:
- A defect is discovered in the product, or
- The product does not meet standard specifications or its purpose.
Misleading and False Advertisement
The Consumer Protection Law prohibits the selling, displaying, offering, promotion and advertisement of any spoilt or stale products – meaning that they have exceeded their validity date or do not conform to prescribed specifications.
Suppliers are also prohibited from describing, advertising or displaying products using false or deceptive information.
Advertisers can be held liable for playing part in the offences unless the information provided by the supplier is too technical to verify.
Information and Labeling
Suppliers are obligated to provide the following information in clear label:
If payment is to be made by installments, the following information must be provided:
Consumer Rights Activism
The Law permits the people of Qatar to set up consumer rights societies and groups. Consumers also have the right to participate in any private society, corporation or council that deals with consumer protection.
Consumer protection societies may be established with the aim of:
Helping to rationalize consumption and family expenditure.
Penalties
Suppliers who violate any of the provisions may face imprisonment for up to two years and/or a fine between QR5,000 and 50,000. The penalty may be doubled for repeat offenders.
source: http://portal.www.gov.qa/