FIle photo used for representation only.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) issued a circular to car, motorbike dealerships, and maintenance service providers regarding the regulations on noise emission levels of vehicles.
The Ministry stated that all providers must ensure that the "noise emission levels of cars and motorcycles conform to the conditions and standards of the Qatari standard specifications issued by the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology."
This is based on the Law No. (8) of 2008 on Consumer Protection and its amendments, which entailed the obligations of car, motorcycle dealers, and maintenance service providers, and explained how to carry out these obligations in accordance with the law's provision and its implementing regulations.
The Ministry stated that Qatar applies the following standard specifications:
1. Gulf Standard / Cars - Noise Pollution (GSO1624/2002) in the sector of mechanical products specifications.
2. Gulf Standard / Motorcycles - Noise Pollution (GSO ECE 41-1:2007) in the sector of mechanical products specifications.
The Ministry further stated that the sound level in the car or motorcycle, when the vehicle is tested while moving, should not exceed the limits indicated in the specification for the decibel (dB) unit, whether for the same gasoline or diesel engine.
It stated that exceeding the specified decibel (dB) unit is a violation of the provisions of Articles (5), (6), and (13) of Law No. (8) of 2008 on consumer protection.
Consequences of the violation include: (1) a fine of not more than one million riyals or imprisonment for not more than two years, and (2) an administrative closure of no more than three months.
In line with this, MoCI also listed a number of corrective measures, including:
1. Suspending the sale of spare parts that cause sound amplification in cars and motorcycles, resulting in noise pollution.
2. Recalling cars that have been equipped with "spare parts that cause sound amplification" and modifying and rectifying their position by removing spare parts that violate Qatar's standard specifications.
3. Car and motorcycle dealerships, and their related maintenance centres, as well as all other maintenance centres, will be given one month to 60 days from the date of the circular's issuance to correct and settle the situation.
4. Taking into account the requirements of Decree-Law No. (19) of 2007 on the Promulgation of the amended Traffic Law and Decree-Law No. (30) of 2022 on the Promulgation of the amended Environment Protection Law, in terms of provisions and requirements that prevent the existence of noise pollution.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry also affirmed that within a month of the circular's issuance, a joint campaign will be launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, under the slogan "Noise Pollution from Cars and Motorcycles" to ensure that various sales outlets and maintenance centres adhere to the requirements of the established Qatari standards. The MoCI will further deal with any violation of the obligations stipulated in Law No. (8) of 2008 and its implementing regulations related to consumer protection.
