Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has published a circular prohibiting the resale of subsidized goods after purchasing them from the licensor and violators will be fined half a million riyals or a year in prison or both.
The ministry said that it is prohibited to sell or barter subsidized goods or to dispose of them in any way, and this is in violation of the provisions of Article No. (11) of Law No. 5 of 2017 regulating dealing in subsidized goods.
The ministry said in a statement published on social media that it is also prohibited for non-subsidy-holders to possess subsidized goods, in violation of the provisions of this law. It is prohibited to take subsidized food supplies outside the country and subsidized materials should not be used for the production of another product without a license from the competent department in accordance with Article No. 12 of Law No. 5 of 2017 regulation dealing in subsidized commodities.
According to the law, a fine of QR 500,000 and imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or one of the two penalties, according to Article No. (16) of the Subsidized Materials Law.
The penalties will be doubled in case he/she repeats it. If the violator commits the crime within five years from the date of completion of the sentence, then it will be considered a repeat offense.