Georgia: Ten guidelines have been created by the Georgian Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (GCCA) to ensure that the market operates smoothly, that unfair business practices are avoided, that consumers make educated decisions, and that their interests are safeguarded.
The GCCA also posted a note about the standards, it developed for the protection of consumer rights on its official Facebook Page on February 10, 2025, Monday.
10 Guidelines developed by GCCA are:
- Standard of informing users in advance: When changing trade policy, the merchant is obliged to provide customers with information about the generation of change in Georgian in advance, with a reasonable time beforehand.
- Standard of service in Georgian language: It is a consumer’s right – to request and receive information in a state language, the knowledge of which cannot be a motive for refusing to provide services.
- Standards for repairing goods: During warranty service, the period of repairing goods is set for 30 calendar days, which, if properly documented, can be increased to 60 days.
- Standard of indicating the price in the food menu: At bars and restaurants – the menu must be the final price, which includes additional tax and other costs. Including the cost of service.
- Standards for Transfer of Visually Imperfect Goods: Evidence of transferring goods in visually impeccable condition to a customer is an Act of Acceptance, by signing it confirms that the item has been received in visually impaired condition or refuses to check its visual condition, resulting in the responsibility.
- Time-limited offer (discount) standard: It is an unfair commercial activity, by a trader to offer goods at a special price in a short period of time, by means of counterfeit counting chronometers (time-counting).
- Unit price indication standard: For goods that are not pre-packed and are weighed/measured in front of the customer, they should indicate unit (1 kg, 1 liter, 1 meter etc.) The price.
- Standard of discount and special offer: The merchant is obliged to indicate three different prices for goods and services when announcing a discount: the one before the discount, the one discounted and the lowest price given in the last 30 days. The regulation does not apply to products that are perishable or have short shelf life and medicines.
- Standard for indicating prices in advertising: In an advertisement spread for the purpose of realization of a specific goods or service, it is necessary to indicate a price, along with other essential information.
- Social Media Pricing Standard: On social media or other online platforms, when offering a specific product or service, the merchant is obliged to provide clear and understandable pricing.
According to the Agency’s note, these standards reflect the problematic issues raised within the cases discussed by the Georgian Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (GCCA) and relevant international best practices.
These standards for “Consumer Rights Protection” are prepared according to the law of Georgia. The main aim of developing these standards was to improve the standard of consumer rights protection in Georgia.
The information provided by the Agency further states that anyone who feels their rights have been violated, may contact the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) by:
- Email: consumer@gcca.gov.ge
- Hotline: 15 20
- City number: 032 2 44 0770
