Exempting some goods from the law regulating the work of commercial agents reflected the government’s commitment to monitoring and regulating the market, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said yesterday.
He noted that this commitment was in accordance with the directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during the inauguration of the Advisory Council’s 44th ordinary session, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
The Emir yesterday ratified Cabinet Decision No 24 of 2016, which exempts a number of goods from Law No 8 of 2002, regulating the work of commercial agents. Earlier in April, the Cabinet had issued a draft law regulating the import and sale of goods by commercial agents and traders in Qatar, as reported by Gulf Times.
The Prime Minister said the ratification of Cabinet Decision No 24 of 2016 would contribute to establishing a competitive business environment in Qatar and encourage the private sector to participate in the state’s development plan in accordance with Qatar National
Vision 2030.
On his part, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani said the decision was ratified only after conducting a comprehensive study on competitiveness in the Qatari
consumer market.
He stressed that the decision would support the ministry’s efforts in combating monopolies and regulating prices, particularly as Qatar had adopted a free-market approach. Further, HE Sheikh Ahmed said, “Liberating a number of products from commercial agents will make the food products sector more competitive, and this will reflect in prices”.
The minister said the decision exempted 35 goods and a number of crucial consumer products that are considered a priority for all citizens and residents, adding that services would also improve as old agents looked to fend off competition from new ones.
According to Article 2 of the decision, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce will implement the law and cross out a list of 35 goods from the records of commercial agents.

Exempted goods
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has issued a list of goods exempted from the law regulating the work of commercial agents in Qatar. These are as follows: chicken and poultry products, milk and dairy products, all types of tea, dried milk, tomato paste, bottled drinking water, sugar, butter, yeast, all types of nuts, detergents of all types, meat products, flour products, coffee and its products, milk powder, fizzy beverages, table salt, legumes, cereals and cornflakes, honey, chocolate, sweets and ice cream, diapers and sanitary napkins of all types, personal and home hygiene products, fish and all seafood, rice, frozen and canned foodstuff, children’s food and baby milk, juices, bakery products, cooking oil, eggs, biscuits, potato chips, tissue paper, foil and food storage materials of different types.