By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

The government has entered the final stretch for the birth of AADE’s sister with the posting for public consultation by the development ministry of the draft law that provides the establishment of an independent market supervision and consumer protection authority.

The aim according to the bill is to strengthen the purchasing power of consumers and to deal with the cost of living of the citizens with the new Authority “engaging” a series of other services such as Interagency Control Unit of the market and Directorate of Consumer Protection.

The new independent authority will be all-powerful and subject only to parliamentary scrutiny. Its mission is:

  • Strengthening market transparency
  • Tackling illegal trade
  • The effective protection of consumer rights
  • The defense of their financial interests
  • The formation of a healthy consumer conscience

To achieve its mission among others:

  • It carries out controls to deal with illegal trade during the production, storage, handling and marketing of products on the market and the provision of services
  • Prepares studies, researches and analyzes to capture the current state of the market
  • Conducts regular and emergency audits, as well as audits following a complaint, to identify violations related to emergency public health protection measures
  • It detects violations, prepares relevant audit reports and imposes the prescribed sanctions
  • Receives and examines complaints and reports from consumers and consumer associations for violation of the rules aimed at protecting consumers in the goods and services sectors, as well as the rules related to the protection of debtors from unfair information practices
  • Conducts checks on online store websites, following a complaint or ex officio
  • Undertakes the consensual resolution of disputes between suppliers and consumers or consumer associations, ex officio or upon reference by at least one of the interested parties
  • It provides legal assistance to consumers, namely:

-The Authority will be managed by 5-member board (Chairman and 4 members) while there are still positions for the Commander and 3 Deputy Commanders with distinct objects and responsibilities. The term of office of all is set for five years and can be renewed once, by decision of the Minister of Development. The Governor and Deputy Governors are full-time and full-time, the members of the Council are part-time. A person who is or has been a member of the Parliament or the European Parliament, the Government or the executive bodies of a political party, during the current or previous parliamentary term, cannot be appointed to the administrative bodies. The selection of administrative bodies is made through an open competition.
-Five hundred are given as a “dowry” to the Authority 500 new jobs except those covered by converts. At least 300 posts are reserved for auditors.