The Ministry of Agriculture and Trade has begun forming the national council for consumer protection and expects the body to be created soon.
This is according to Minister of Agriculture and Trade Dušan Petrović, who spoke during a conference in Belgrade on Wednesday.
The council’s most important task will be to come up with a good consumer protection strategy in a reasonable amount of time and clearly define the goals and the deadlines for their completion, Petrović explained.
Speaking at a conference on consumer protection, Petrović noted that consultations were under way, and that the council would be comprised of officials from the government, consumer associations and business community.
It is going to serve as a forum for legitimate and open discussion on everything regarding the subject, he remarked.
The law on consumer protection was adopted last year, he stated, adding that Serbia had shown a clear intention to adapt its economic system and institutions to those that represent the highest achievements of civilization, which was why it wished to join the EU.
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said the EU continued helping with regulation harmonization with Serbia, as well as their full implementation, which was why it financed the project strengthening consumer protection in Serbia.
The project will take two and a half years to finish, he explained, adding that it will end in February 2014 and was worth EUR 2.5 million.
The EU puts great emphasis on consumer protection, and the protection policy must constantly be adapted to changes within the EU, he remarked.
Project team leader and chief expert for law Thierry Bourgoignie said the activities would improve the existing legislation in that domain and coordination between institutions and organizations and raise awareness about consumer rights.
The project is conducted by a consortium headed by European Profiles S.A., together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade.
Source b92.net
