The League for Consumer Rights Defence (LADC) commits itself to draw up and make public in the next ten months four monitoring reports on how the consumer rights in different areas are observed in Moldova. LADC chairman Roman Mihaies told a news conference on November 30 that the monitoring mechanisms will focus on the action plan of the National Consumer Protection Strategy for 2008-20012. Roman Mihaies said that the League submitted an updated plan of cooperation in improving the conditions and national legislation on consumer protection to the state authorities. A similar initiative was put forward in 2003. The publishing of the Chisinau Municipality Monitor, which includes the decisions taken at local level, was the only point fulfilled, Mihaies said. LADC asks the administration of the country to set up an autonomous authority that would deal with the protection of consumers’ rights alongside the Standardisation and Metrology Service. It also suggests signing direct contracts between the suppliers and consumers, without intermediaries, and creating commissions for accrediting the administrators of residential blocks, under the public administration authorities. According to Roman Mihaies, these posts are now held by incompetent persons. LADC demands that the Parliament exclude article 194 (1) from the Penal Code. The article provides for punishments for thefts of electric power, thermal energy and natural gas. Mihaies argues that the notion of theft is clearly defined in the Code and there is no need for specifications that, according to LADC, favour the monopolists. LADC was created in 2000 and has over 50 members all over Moldova.