International Workshop on Enhancing the Capacity of Officials in State Management in the Field of Consumer Rights Protection

On September 30, 2024, in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province, the National Competition Commission – Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Trade of Dak Lak Province and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, organized an international workshop to enhance the capacity of officials in state management in the field of consumer rights protection.

In his speech at the workshop, Mr. Phan The Thang – Deputy head of Consumer Protection Division - stated that on June 20, 2023, the National Assembly passed the Consumer Rights Protection Law, which took effect on July 1, 2024, replacing the Consumer Rights Protection Law issued in 2010. Compared to the 2010 law, the 2023 law supplements and improves many regulations to enhance the effectiveness of consumer rights protection in the new context, notably regulations on specific transactions, the responsibilities of organizations and individuals in business, and consumer rights.

Mr. Phan The Thang delivering speech at the conference

Besides introducing the content of the law, focusing on some regulations on state management in the field of consumer rights protection, and the responsibilities of organizations and individuals in business, the new Consumer Rights Protection Law clarifies concepts such as specific transactions, consumer information, sustainable consumption, vulnerable consumers, and corporate responsibility.

The new law clearly stipulates the responsibilities of businesses to register standard contracts and general transaction conditions such as: providing electricity for living purposes, providing domestic water, pay television, terrestrial mobile telecommunications services (voice services, messaging services, internet access services), apartment sales, etc.; the responsibilities of businesses in concluding contracts in remote transactions.

The workshop also aimed to share Australia’s experience in detecting and handling consumer rights protection cases as well as law enforcement practices in consumer protection in Australia. Ms. Grace Cooper, an expert from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), shared about the role of the ACCC in consumer protection in Australia, complaint assessment, investigation steps, businesses headquartered abroad, and hypothetical cases.

Ms. Grace Cooper presenting at the workshop

According to Ms. Grace, the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) stipulates that all consumers have equal rights and all businesses have equal responsibilities across Australia. Accordingly, the ACCC cooperates with other government agencies to collect, exchange information, and enforce the ACL. However, the ACCC does not resolve consumer disputes; instead, it educates consumers about legal regulations and advises them to contact dispute resolution agencies such as consumer protection agencies, industry ombudsmen, and small claims courts.

The workshop was an opportunity for agencies, businesses, and associations to better understand their rights, obligations, and responsibilities in protecting consumer rights.

Son Tran