Georgia:Â The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) hosted a public consultation on the first national strategy document for the protection of consumer rights in Georgia on February 14, 2024.Â
The meeting was attended by representatives from various governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and business associations.
The strategy document outlines the goals and objectives of the consumer rights protection policy for the period of 2024-2026, as well as the existing challenges faced by different stakeholders and the necessary measures to achieve a high level of consumer protection in Georgia. The document covers various aspects of consumer protection, such as product safety, quality, information, redress, education, and participation.
The strategy document also reflects the international experience and best practices in the field of consumer protection, drawing from the EU and other countries. The document incorporates the new agenda for consumer rights protection, the recommendations of the OECD and UNCTAD, the latest EU legislation, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The strategy document was developed with the assistance of international experts involved in the EU-funded TWINNING project at the GCCA. The document also took into account the responses and recommendations of national competent bodies, such as the National Bank of Georgia, the National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission of Georgia, the Communications Commission, the State Insurance Supervision Service of Georgia, the National Food Agency, and non-governmental organizations working on consumer protection issues.
The public consultation was aimed at soliciting feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders on the draft strategy document, as well as fostering dialogue and cooperation among them. The GCCA plans to finalize and adopt the strategy document by the end of March 2024, after incorporating the inputs from the public consultation.
The GCCA is the main consumer protection agency in Georgia, responsible for enforcing the Law on Consumer Rights Protection and other relevant legislation. The GCCA also monitors the market, investigates consumer complaints, educates consumers and businesses, and cooperates with other national and international organizations in the field of consumer protection.
