New publication addressing consumer protection launched in Chisinau

“Proconsumator” newspaper was launched in Chisinau on Wednesday, January 17. The publication intends to be a consumer protection watchdog, to inform consumers about their rights as beneficiaries of products and services, and monitor the activity in all the consumer protection-related fields. The launching of the first number of the “Proconsumator” has been announced by its founders, the League for Consumer Rights Protection, Public Movement for Consumer Protection “Pro-consumator”, and the Centre for Consumer Protection at a press conference. According to the chairman of the Centre for Consumer Protection, Denis Starus, consumers will have the possibility to share their opinions in a special column of the newspaper, which will also include the answers of the specialists. There will also be a specialised column dedicated to the specialised state institutions. Chairman of the Consumer Rights Protection Roman Mihaies mentioned that this kind of newspapers is widely spread in Europe, supported by the state. In Moldova, the launching of this publication was possible only with the efforts of several NGOs. This is why the circulation of the newspaper is a modest one for the beginning – just 3,000 copies, with bimonthly editions in the next 2 or 3 months. The price of a copy in the “Moldpresa” news stalls is 2 lei. The founders rely on the state’s interest for continuing publishing the newspaper later. Depending on financial possibilities, they intend to increase the circulation and the periodicity of the newspaper. Three organisations, which launched the publication, are also the founders of the National Council of the Consumer Protection Organisations in Moldova, created in 2006. The organisation has the aim of promoting the policy of effective protection of consumer rights, experience exchange and the strengthening of NGOs in the field, the facilitation of the dialogue with other social partners, working out joint programmes, establishing the dialogue with donor organisations and promoting a constructive dialogue with the authorities.