Armenia`s authorities paln forming effective consumer protection  system 

ArmInfo. The Armenian authorities want to create an effective system for protecting consumer rights and the necessary environment for the development of fair competition and  entrepreneurship in the domestic market of the republic. The  Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on Economic Affairs at an extraordinary session on May 5 issued a positive conclusion on the amendments to the Law "On the Protection of Economic Competition" and a package of related laws submitted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the first reading.

According to the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Gevork Papoyan, according to the proposed amendments, the Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition will receive the powers of the central contact body for the protection of consumer rights. The fact is that regulations related to the protection of consumer rights are absent from the current legislation of the country. The draft law establishes clear regulatory mechanisms for offenses against consumers, including a general description of unfair competition and  its manifestations.

The document also, as the Minister noted, defines the specifics of considering the grounds for initiating proceedings on cases of offenses against consumers. In particular, the package provides for the obligation of economic entities purchasing agricultural products to pay basic interest in the event of late payment, and establishes liability for violations of consumer rights. The bill on amendments to the Law "On the Protection of Consumer Rights" enshrines the fundamental right of the consumer to free choice. 

Comprehensive regulatory mechanisms are provided for in relation to unfair competition by economic entities against consumers in accordance with the European Union Directive, including measures to protect consumers from unfair competition. In particular, the principle of influencing the manifestation of unfair competition by an economic entity in relation to a consumer is established, the signs of behavior considered unfair competition are defined, and specific types of behavior, actions and inactions of economic entities that are considered unfair in all cases are indicated.

Papoyan also emphasized that the presented package is based on the commitments undertaken by Armenia within the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU.

To the MPs' remark that sellers often offer supposed discounts,  although in reality nothing of the sort happens, the minister noted that additional discussions are needed to solve this problem so that the problem is taken into account in the package of legislative acts by the second reading. Papoyan also believes that consumer protection is also aimed at resolving issues related to improving the business  environment, since the "business-consumer" relationship will be transferred to a fair field, and the solution to the problem of one consumer will be directly linked to the solution of the problem of public interest.