Every year the 15th March is observed as the World Consumer Rights Day all over the world. ‘Consumer Justice Now!’ will be the theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2013.

Consumers International is urging its members and supporters to use the occasion to expose the very real damage caused by poor or non-existent consumer protection around the world.

In Europe the focus on Consumer Day will be on product safety and market surveillance. The European Commission on 13 February this year has proposed a new package of legislative and non-legislative measures to improve consumer product safety and to strengthen market surveillance of products in the EU.

The day has its origin in former US President John F. Kennedy’s declaration of four basic consumer rights in his 15th March 1962 special message to the US Congress such as: Right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose and right to be heard. “Consumers by definition, include us all,” Kennedy said in his declaration to the US Congress. “They are the largest economic group, affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group… whose views are often not heard.”

To these four basic rights, Consumers International added four more rights: right to satisfaction of basic needs, right to redress, right to education and right to a healthy environment.

World Consumer Rights Day was first observed on 15th March, 1983. Two years later, on 9th April 1985, the United Nations general assembly adopted the UN guidelines for consumer protection. and approved the idea to declare March 15 World Consumer Rights Day.

This year the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) will be launching an EU funded national awareness campaign for both consumers and traders on the new regulations, rights and obligations all have within the context of EU Consumer and Competition legislation.

As a first activity a seminar will be taking place on 4th April at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Further information can be obtained by visiting the Authority’s website www.mccaa.org.mt.

he campaign will also include a number of consumer-related TV spots.

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