NGM: Consumer Protection Council meeting for the protection of consumer rights and the effectiveness of the domestic consumer protection institutional system

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 11. 06. 11:50

The Ministry of National Economy (NGM), which is responsible for consumer protection, organized the second meeting of the Consumer Protection Council of the year, which was attended by a wide range of actors in the consumer protection institutional system. At the meeting held with the participation of ministries, partner authorities, civil organizations, conciliation bodies and business associations, the members confirmed their commitment to the further development of domestic consumer protection and the even more effective protection of consumer rights, the NGM told MTI on Wednesday.

Bence Gerlaki, the deputy state secretary responsible for consumer protection at the Ministry of Economy, said in the announcement that in order to ensure a high level of domestic consumer protection, the ministry assigns a special role to the Consumer Protection Council, which also helps to enforce the balance between market players.

In this context, he initiated the immediate review and rethinking of the currently operating, widespread customer service system in order to handle consumer complaints more effectively.

The Consumer Protection Council is a consultative, opinion-making, proposal-making and interest-conciliation forum that prepares the government’s decisions related to consumer protection, the purpose of which is to integrate consumer protection proposals into the work of the government and to coordinate the government’s consumer protection policy with consumer and business interests.

Accordingly, it has a broad membership, and representatives of the government, civil society, and entrepreneurs actively participate in the work covering the entire consumer protection institutional system.

At the first meeting held after the management of consumer protection was transferred to the Ministry of National Economy, in addition to presenting their activities, the members of the Consumer Protection Council formulated proposals to further strengthen consumer protection, and received detailed information about the goals and tasks of the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority, which will be established on January 1, 2025.

The participants emphasized the consumer challenges arising in connection with the digital transition and “greenwashing”, as well as shared their experiences with the operation of customer services, NGM wrote.