'GCC countries looking to frame unified consumer protection law'

Date

8/1/2016 1:14:11 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

The Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has said that GCC countries are working to frame a unified law to safeguard the rights of consumers.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Omar Faisal al Jahadmi, deputy chairman for consumer services and market monitoring in PACP said, 'The sultanate has a great commercial movement just like the rest of the Gulf countries. Lots of branded and unbranded goods enter the country and we get complaints of various types like defective goods or those related to after-sales services. PACP and the Consumer Protection Administration take up such complaints to resolve them keeping consumer interests in mind.'

Many foreign companies are operating in the region and we get several complaints regarding inferior customer service, said Jahadmi.

'So all GCC countries have called for a unified consumer protection system in order to protect the rights of consumers and for effective quality monitoring. Once the system is in place, all GCC countries will follow one consumer protection law.'

Jahadmi said, 'Experts are working to formulate executive regulations. 'All GCC countries have their own consumer protection laws which make it difficult when there is a huge movement of goods across the borders. Once the unified consumer protection system is finalised, there will be one rule applicable to all.'

He said that Oman was the first country in the GCC to have a consumer protection law. 'In 2002, the Consumer Protection Law came into existence in Oman. Other countries followed us. Since things change with time we must keep updating the law to suit market needs. We published new laws to protect the rights of consumers in 2014. It took us four years to make the changes.'

Jahadmi said that at present all GCC countries exchange information and reports and work together on developing programmes designed to secure an adequate level of protection for consumers. 'Respective consumer protection bodies in the GCC have taken several measures to help consumers. A unified consumer protection rule is likely to safeguard consumers' interests more effectively.'

He said that the present executive regulations of the Consumer Protection Law in Oman are being reviewed. 'There are many articles in the law which need to be further updated. This will help us act fast and explain the law to the court and take appropriate action accordingly.'

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