The Consumer Protection Agency will be restructured and its duties will be modified, deputy minister of economy Vitalie Iurcu announced in an event staged by the Agency on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day. The official said a part of the duties of the Consumer Protection Agency related to food products will be transferred to the National Food Safety Agency.

There will also be created the Agency for Market and Nonfoods Supervision. “These activities will continue to be dealt with by the inspection bodies so as to guarantee that the consumer is maximally protected. We witness positive signals in the development of the Consumer Protection Agency. Its capacities should be strengthened. But there is the problem of personnel motivation. Given the implemented reforms, I’m sure solutions will be found to this issue as well, including at the stage of training specialists, and such a discipline will be included in the program of a number of national universities,” stated Vitalie Iurcu.

Consumer Protection Agency director Iurie Eremia said the Agency now has ten vacancies, including of senior specialists, but there is no demand owing to the low salaries. He noted the responsibility for the purchased products is borne by consumers and the feeling of responsibility should be cultivated from an early age, which is from kindergarten. “All the events staged to celebrate this day are designed to bring back into focus the importance of knowing consumer rights, while all the citizens should be active, well-informed consumers ready to defend their rights,” he stated.

Iurie Eremia also said that owing to the online communication means, consumers directly notify the Consumer Protection Agency of the purchased low-quality products. The Agency is also looking for national and foreign experts to launch another five communication platforms aimed at protecting the interests of consumers.