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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Consumers invited to inform themselves of their rights

Belgrade, 14 March 2008

Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo invited consumers in Serbia, on World Consumer Day, March 15, to more actively participate in educating and informing themselves of their rights.

Bubalo recalled that consumer rights are also defined in the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection, securing a framework for strengthening national policies of consumer protection.

Consumer rights are a basic economic prerequisite for the realisation of all other rights and therefore the European Convention on Human Rights defines it as a basic right, Bubalo said.

Bearing in mind the importance of further developing the consumer protection system, the draft law amending the Law on consumer protection and the draft law on general safety of products have been sent forward, he said.

The positive effects of these bills will be passed onto consumers who as end users will be guaranteed a high level of health protection and safety, Bubalo noted.

The Ministry is striving to develop and advance partner relations with consumer organisations in many ways, such as by including representatives of all consumer associations in the work of the Minister’s Council for consumer protection, said Bubalo.

He stressed the importance of setting up a unique consumer association which would have full legitimacy and become a national representative in international organisations.

Bubalo explained that amendments to the Law on consumer protection will replace the Minister’s Council with the National Council for Consumer Protection, which will more efficiently and in coordination with other ministries, protect consumer interests.

He noted that the implementation of the CARDS programme on consumer protection, financed by the European Agency for Reconstruction with €2 million in funds, has begun.

The programme will strengthen the legal framework of consumer protection, implement training programmes and procure IT equipment with the aim of setting up an integrated market inspection system as the first step towards establishing a unique rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer products (RAPEX) in Serbia.