Consumer protection in Oman directs vendors to display all taxes on receipts

Muscat: New regulations from Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) reveal that establishments have to mention or display all types of taxes on their bills. “The price of an item and the tax levied on it must be displayed on the receipt,” according to PACP.
Two years after introducing a Consumer Protection Law, PACP has released new amendments to protect customers and businesses. The executive regulations aim to protect consumers from any negligence or wrongdoing by suppliers, as well as giving business owners guidelines to practice their trade correctly and prevent them from violating the law.
The laws also apply to purchases and exchanges, which are made over electronic communication platforms. The new regulations consider products to be adulterated if they are altered in shape, size, weight, amount, attributes, or characteristics. The other regulations include that every bill should display the name of shop, the registration number and all other registration data. “It should also mention the date of purchase for goods or services and the price of the commodity and the amount of tax,” it said.
It should also mention the amount in terms of the number of products, or weight or size and its delivery date and how delivery will be implemented.
Every bill should also carry the signature and seal provider of the supplier, or their authorised representative.
“Even the warranty period or maintenance period or free service that is applicable for the product should be displayed,” PACP said.
Residents welcomed the new regulations saying that it will be good for them. “Some establishments tend to hide the prices. Now they will not be able to do so,” commented Suresh Kumar, an Indian expat living in Oman.
Prabhat Kumar, a Bangladesh expat said: “The higher penalties will make traders and suppliers think twice before indulging in any wrongdoing.”