Consumer protection in Consumer protection in MacedoniaMacedonia

10 march, Zagreb10 march, Zagreb

Harmonisation of the legislationHarmonisation of the legislation

1.1 Consumers Protection Law 1.1 Consumers Protection Law (“Official Gazette of the (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia”, No.38/04; 77/07 and 103/08)Republic of Macedonia”, No.38/04; 77/07 and 103/08), , refers to:refers to:

- - 1313 EU Directives have been transposed. EU Directives have been transposed. (84/450, (84/450, 85/374, 85/577, 2001/95, 93/13, 94/47, 97/7, 85/374, 85/577, 2001/95, 93/13, 94/47, 97/7, 97/55, 98/27, 1999/44, 88/378, 98/6 и 87/357).97/55, 98/27, 1999/44, 88/378, 98/6 и 87/357).

The Law on Consumers Protection The Law on Consumers Protection in Ain Agreements greements for for CConsumer onsumer CCreditsredits

- - The application of the The application of the llaw started on 1st January 2008,aw started on 1st January 2008, and refers to and refers to

trade companies trade companies that arethat are not banks or saving not banks or saving houseshouses - - 55 licenses to trading companies for granting consumers credits licenses to trading companies for granting consumers credits - Minimum 200 EUR, Maximum 20.000 EUR- Minimum 200 EUR, Maximum 20.000 EUR - In the period January, 2008 –march 2010, total of 6503 credits - In the period January, 2008 –march 2010, total of 6503 credits

have been approved have been approved - - The Ministry of Economy is in charge of doing surveillances of The Ministry of Economy is in charge of doing surveillances of

granting consumer credits by trade companiesgranting consumer credits by trade companies.. - Supervision of the consumers credits providers is performed by the - Supervision of the consumers credits providers is performed by the

State Market InspectorateState Market Inspectorate

Program for protection of consumers, for the Program for protection of consumers, for the period 2009-2010period 2009-2010

Adopted by the Government of RM in January 2009 (Official Gazette Adopted by the Government of RM in January 2009 (Official Gazette of RM No. 3/09).of RM No. 3/09).

- - Horizontal program- Several ministries and institutions whose Horizontal program- Several ministries and institutions whose competencies are related to the field of consumers protection are competencies are related to the field of consumers protection are includedincluded

- Ministry of economy Ministry of economy - Ministry of FinanceMinistry of Finance- Ministry of Health - The Food DirectorateMinistry of Health - The Food Directorate- Ministry of Health - Ministry of Health - State State SSanitary and anitary and HHealth ealth IInspectoratenspectorate- Ministry of Transport and CMinistry of Transport and Communicationsommunications- Ministry of Ministry of EEducation and ducation and SScience-Bureau for cience-Bureau for EEducation ducation

developmentdevelopment

Market SurveillanceMarket Surveillance

3.1 3.1 The Law for Market Surveillance The Law for Market Surveillance

- - Chapter III of the Regulative No.765/2008/EEC, shall be transposed Chapter III of the Regulative No.765/2008/EEC, shall be transposed by June 2009, concerning the framework of market surveillance in by June 2009, concerning the framework of market surveillance in the Community and control of products that enter the Community the Community and control of products that enter the Community market; market;

- - The Law shall consider coordination of Inspection Bodies relevant The Law shall consider coordination of Inspection Bodies relevant for market surveillance and control of the products on the market in for market surveillance and control of the products on the market in field of industrial products, chemical products, toys and others;field of industrial products, chemical products, toys and others;

- - The responsibilities of different Inspection Organs and the Customs The responsibilities of different Inspection Organs and the Customs Administration of the Republic of Macedonia related to CE marking Administration of the Republic of Macedonia related to CE marking when entering in the Republic of Macedonia, shall be defined in the when entering in the Republic of Macedonia, shall be defined in the

LawLaw

Cooperation with NGOs on consumers Cooperation with NGOs on consumers protectionprotection

- - Financial support of the Ministry of EconomyFinancial support of the Ministry of Economy

- Public Call- Public Call

- allocated funds to several nongovernmental - allocated funds to several nongovernmental

organisations for consumer protection.organisations for consumer protection. - Membership - Membership in the European Consumers in the European Consumers Organisation –BEUC and the World Consumers Organisation –BEUC and the World Consumers Organisation –Consumers International Organisation –Consumers International

- - The same procedure will follow also in 2010The same procedure will follow also in 2010

Council for protection of Council for protection of consumersconsumers

In June 2009 re-election is made of the Council for In June 2009 re-election is made of the Council for protection of consumers of the Government of Republic of protection of consumers of the Government of Republic of Macedonia after the expiration of the mandate of four yearsMacedonia after the expiration of the mandate of four years

The Council is consisted of 12 members, of which 8 are The Council is consisted of 12 members, of which 8 are representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Health-Food Directorate and the State sanitary and health Health-Food Directorate and the State sanitary and health inspectorate, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and inspectorate, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and Connections, Ministry of Education and Science-Bureau for Connections, Ministry of Education and Science-Bureau for education development, Association of economic education development, Association of economic chambers and 4 members are from associations for chambers and 4 members are from associations for protection of consumers-non-governmental sectorprotection of consumers-non-governmental sector

Council for protection of consumersCouncil for protection of consumers/2/2

The Council for protection of consumers monitors The Council for protection of consumers monitors the realisation of the Program for protection of the realisation of the Program for protection of consumers and proposes undertaking measures consumers and proposes undertaking measures for protection of health, safety and economic for protection of health, safety and economic interest of the consumers. interest of the consumers.

The Council studies the existing legal regulation The Council studies the existing legal regulation and proposes appropriate amendments in the area and proposes appropriate amendments in the area of the legal protection of consumers. of the legal protection of consumers.

The Council cooperates with the Councils for The Council cooperates with the Councils for protection of consumers on local level, for support protection of consumers on local level, for support in the conduction of activities from the local in the conduction of activities from the local programsprograms

2010 Action plan2010 Action plan - - directives directives for transposingfor transposing

- - Directive 32005L0029Directive 32005L0029 for unfair market behavior by the business for unfair market behavior by the business entities on the internal marketentities on the internal market

- - Directive 31998L 0027Directive 31998L 0027 referring to the orders which protect the referring to the orders which protect the interest of the consumers and instrument collective protection of interest of the consumers and instrument collective protection of consumers will be introduced as effective mechanism of protection of consumers will be introduced as effective mechanism of protection of the common interests of the consumers and procedures in front of the the common interests of the consumers and procedures in front of the competent competent courts. courts.

- In- In JuneJune 2010 2010 the Directive 32002L0065 will be transposed with the Directive 32002L0065 will be transposed with the passing of the Law on sale of the distance financial services the passing of the Law on sale of the distance financial services from the ministry of finance. from the ministry of finance.

- In June 2010 the directive 32009L0048 will be transposed with in - In June 2010 the directive 32009L0048 will be transposed with in special Rulebook for children toys special Rulebook for children toys in accordance with the Law on in accordance with the Law on product safety with which amendment will be made on the existing product safety with which amendment will be made on the existing Rulebook from 2004 Rulebook from 2004 - Programme for Consumer protection – 2011 -2012- Programme for Consumer protection – 2011 -2012

Consumers Protection UnitConsumers Protection Unit

- - Total number of employees in the Unit is Total number of employees in the Unit is

four (4) personsfour (4) persons The Unit is part of Department for Internal The Unit is part of Department for Internal

market market one new employment is planned each year one new employment is planned each year

in the futurein the future

MINISTRY OF ECONOMYMINISTRY OF ECONOMY

www. Economy.gov. mkwww. Economy.gov. mk

Unit for consumer protectionUnit for consumer protection