Qatar takes measures to combat illegal goods coming in from blockading nations

Qatar’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) recently issued a circular which instructed shops and shopping complexes in Qatar to remove goods originating from the four blockading countries.

The decision was carried out in a very organised manner, without any panic to people, and it came in for high praise from the country’s citizens and expatriates alike.

Qatar has issued a directive to find new suppliers for the variety of goods impacted due to the blockade to protect the safety of consumers in the country and to combat improper trafficking of goods, reported The Peninsula.

The Government Communications Office said in a statement that “the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt unexpectedly announced on June 5, 2017, that they would close its land and sea borders, as well as its airports, territory and airspace, to goods destined for Qatar. These measures impacted all goods passing across (or that could pass across).  They further subsequently adopted a series of ancillary restrictions and arbitrary exceptions.”

“To protect the safety of consumers in the State of Qatar and to combat improper trafficking of goods, the Government issued a directive to find new suppliers of the variety of goods impacted. Products originating from the blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the GCC Customs Territory, has to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures.”

“Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements,” the statement said.

Picture courtesy: The Peninsula