Moldova has European instruments for protecting consumers, deputy minister

“The National Agency for Competition Protection has the instruments needed to ensure protection at European level,” Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac said in a news conference held within the Consumer Week, Info-Prim Neo reports. Among these instruments, the deputy minister mentioned the possibility of imposing fines on the economic entities that do not obey the law and supply defective goods or food products with the expired used-by date. A new consumer protection strategy for 2013- 2020 will be worked out by the end of this year. There will be promoted a Government decision on the regulation of the inspections carried out by the National Agency for Competition Protection. “We do not want to transform the Agency into a body that imposes penalties only. We need a clear inspection procedure. The Agency’s actions and future steps should be clearly described so that the operational activity of the economic entity is not interrupted,” said Octavian Calmac. Alexandru Cuzimuc, director of the National Agency for Competition Protection, said that they are taking steps to open the Agency’s local subdivision in Cahul town. The subdivision in Balti is functional. In 2011, the consumer protection body received about 900 petitions. 350 of the disputes were solved amicably. In 385 of the cases, there were found irregularities and imposed fines of 10,000 to 12,000 lei. The consumers whose rights are violated can call 080028028. The call is free of charge from any corner of the country. The World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on March 15.