Georgia: The number of applications submitted to the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) for consumer rights protection nearly doubled in 2024 as compared to 2023. 890 applications were registered in 2024, and in 2023 the applications submitted were only 495.
GCCA made this announcement through its Official Facebook page on January 15, 2025. The agency wrote that according to the Georgian Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (GCCA), the number of consumer inquiries doubled in 2024.
It should also be noted that 90% of cases were completed in 2024. They have been decided in favor of consumers and their demand has been fulfilled due to which Georgian consumers were delighted.
According to the information shared by the Georgian Consumer Agency and regarding confirmed violations, the GCCA found 198 cases of consumer group rights violations in 2024 as opposed to 82 cases in 2023.
In terms of commitment agreements, traders and the agency signed 193 agreements in 2024 as compared to 161 in 2023. To assemble with these agreements, dealers had to restore consumer rights and bring their trade policies into compliance with the law.
The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) revealed that, it has produced a guideline sheet in 2024 on price indication for goods and services and to promote fair and transparent trade practices.
The Guidance sheet mainly includes important suggestions and activities specifically designed for different target groups to establish a comprehensive framework for organizing, planning, and assessing consumer awareness campaigns.
The guideline outlines the following key principles:
• Unit Price Standard: For goods that are not pre-packaged and are weighed or measured in front of the consumer, the price per unit (e.g. per kilogram, liter, meter, or square meter) must be clearly indicated.
• Discount and Special Offer Standard: When announcing a discount, traders are required to display three different prices for goods and services: the original price (pre-discount), the discounted price, and the lowest price assigned to the product or service within the last 30 days. (This regulation does not apply to perishable goods, products with a short shelf life, or medicines.)
• Price Indication in Advertising: If a trader advertises a specific good or service for sale, they must include the price along with other essential information in the advertisement.
• Price Indication on Food Menus: In bars and restaurants, menus must display the final price of food and drinks, including value-added tax (VAT) and other costs, such as service charges. It is illegal to state at the bottom of the menu that prices exclude “VAT” or service charges.