March 15 - Consumer Day
The main document regulating legal relations in the field of consumer protection is the Law of the Republic of Belarus of January 9, 2002, No. 90-Z "On Protection of Consumer Rights". The provisions of this Law apply to relations between consumers and manufacturers, sellers, suppliers, representatives, contractors, repair organizations, arising from contracts for retail sale, work, lease, insurance, storage, energy saving, commission, carriage of passengers and their luggage, cargo, paid services and other similar contracts.
The system of working with citizens, established in the regional executive committee, city and district executive committees, generally ensures the solution of socially significant problems of the population, the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, and provides citizens with comprehensive assistance in resolving issues, including those related to improving the quality of trade services.
At the regional level, the protection of consumer rights in trade, public catering, and consumer services, and the coordination of activities of city and district executive committees for the protection of rights are carried out by the Department of Trade and Services of the regional executive committee.
Authorized persons for the protection of consumer rights of city and district executive committees, within their competence, consider appeals and complaints from consumers, receive citizens, and provide consultative and practical assistance in resolving conflict situations. They constantly carry out work aimed at restoring the violated rights of consumers and citizens out of court.
Handling citizens' appeals in executive committees is carried out in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Citizens' Appeals", decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Belarus, and other regulatory legal acts adopted at the level of the Government and regional executive committees, city and district executive committees.
In 2012, the departments and divisions of the regional executive committee, city and district executive committees considered 2691 citizens' appeals on consumer protection issues, including 342 in the trade sector, 48 in public catering, 103 in consumer services, 1933 in other paid services, and 265 on other issues.
Based on the results of the review, 46 administrative offense reports were drawn up, and 42 orders to eliminate legislative violations were issued. Material damage in the amount of 95.1 million rubles was compensated.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of March 26, 1998 No. 157 "On Public Holidays and Commemorative Dates in the Republic of Belarus", since 2000, Consumer Day has been established in our country at the state level on March 15.
In 2013, the World Consumer Rights Day will be held under the slogan "Consumer Justice Today", proposed during the Consultative Council on Consumer Protection of the CIS Member States for holding Consumer Day in the CIS countries. The holding of this event will be aimed at focusing consumers' attention on improving legal mechanisms for protecting citizens' rights and legitimate interests.
The theme of Consumer Rights Protection Day is recognized to draw the public's attention to the broad opportunities for citizens to protect their rights based on a rational, effective, and mutually respectful dialogue between consumers, state bodies, public consumer protection organizations, and economic entities within the framework of using the legal mechanisms provided by the legislation.
Within the framework of Consumer Day held in the Republic of Belarus, issues of consumer rights protection are widely covered in the media in cities and districts of the region, and practical assistance is provided to residents of the region in resolving conflict situations. "Hotlines" on consumer-related issues are organized with the involvement of specialists from various services, and leaflets - memos "On Consumer Rights" are distributed. Consultation points are established in large retail outlets to inform citizens about their consumer rights. In shopping centers and markets, explanations of certain articles of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Consumer Protection" are broadcast via public address system.