The 15^th of March is the day when the world celebrates consumer rights. On this day consumer organisations and movements take the opportunity to generate awareness on consumers’ basic rights.

This celebration takes place on the 15^th of March because this date marks the anniversary when President John F. Kennedy back in 1962 addressed the US congress on the issue of consumer rights. President Kennedy was the first world leader who recognized the important role consumers play in the economy when in his declaration said that “Consumers by definition, include us all. 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.” On this same occasion, President Kennedy declared four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, to choose, to information and the right to be heard.

Eventually these four rights became eight as over the years the right to satisfaction of basic needs, the right to redress, the right to education and the right to a healthy environment were added to the original four.

These eight rights safeguard consumers’ economic interests even before actually purchasing a product or service. The right to be informed ensures that consumers are provided with all the information they need on the product or service they are interested in purchasing so they can make an informed buying decision. Consumers should also be provided with information on sellers and how to communicate with them in situations when consumers need to make a complaint on the problems encountered. This right facilitates consumers’ purchase choices and simultaneously protects consumers against dishonest or misleading advertising and product labelling.

To make an informed choice consumers also need to have different products and services to choose from. By comparing products and services consumers have the possibility to select the best product or service according to their needs and financial means.

When consumers encounter problems with any of the products or services purchased, the right to redress gives them the possibility to request the trader to provide them with an adequate solution or compensation. If a satisfactory solution is not achieved after complaining with the seller, consumers may then request the assistance of a consumer authority or association to be provided with the required assistance to resolve the dispute and obtain the remedy the law provides. In Malta, consumers may obtain such assistance either through the Office for Consumer Affairs within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority, a registered ADR entity or a registered consumer association.

The right to safety ensures that consumers only have access to purchase products that are safe. Through this right consumers are protected against products, production processes and services which may harm their life and health.

Another important right that safeguards consumers’ interest is the right to be heard. This right requires that consumers’ associations are set up to represent the interest of consumers when government policies that affect consumer rights are made. Consumers are also entitled to have access to basic essential goods and services, adequate food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education and sanitation.

To benefit from and effectively exercise these rights consumers must be aware of them and hence the right to consumer education.

15 March 2023

Raising awareness about the importance of consumer protection and strengthen consumers' rights in today's dynamic markets 

The MCCAA organised a half-day conference on World Consumer Rights Day, themed "Strengthening consumers' rights in today's dynamic markets." The conference discussed how the new legal framework, The Modernisation Directive, better equip consumers to face the challenges they encounter in today's evolving markets.

In her address, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli highlighted how important it is that consumer protection legislation evolves in sync with consumers’ buying behaviour and needs. Minister Farrugia Portelli emphasised the importance of education and awareness when new regulations come into force. Consumers need to be aware that the new consumer protection rules impose new additional information requirements on online markets, enhance their rights when subscribing to ‘free’ digital services, enact new requirements for ranking and search results, and also regulate online consumer reviews that expressly prohibit fake reviews or any form of manipulation of consumer reviews.”

Hon. Rebekah Borg remarked, "As the world moves towards an increasingly digital future, the traditional way of discussing consumer rights is quickly becoming outdated. By combining strong legislation with effective education, we can create a safer and more equitable environment for all consumers."

The MCCAA Chairperson Inġ. Helga Pizzuto said that the 15th of March has become an annual international event where global awareness is raised about the rights and needs of consumers. Inġ. Pizzuto explained that the conference brought together important stakeholders to discuss the recent legislative changes in consumer law and how the new rules better safeguard consumers’ interests.

To better understand consumer behaviour and psychology, academics from the University of Malta and Anglia Ruskin University, explained the challenges and opportunities of digital consumerism and internet-based shopping behaviour.

The impact of the new rules on both consumers and businesses was debated in a panel discussion involving representatives of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, the Malta Chamber of SMEs, the MCCAA and a legal expert on consumer affairs. The panel also discussed the adequacy of the new legislation and the challenges it presents to regulators from a legal enforcement perspective.

The conference provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the new legal framework and collaborate to ensure that consumers are adequately protected in the evolving markets.

15 March 2019

The MCCAA organised a conference on ‘Trusted Smart Products’ to mark this year’s World Consumer Rights Day

In his welcome speech, Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Rights, Public Cleansing and Support for the Capital City Deo Debattista said that, “smart technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives and we consumers are increasingly becoming dependent on smart devices which have redefined the way we live our life.” Parliamentary Secretary Deo Debattista also spoke about the benefits of smart technology for consumers which is introducing a whole new product choice that is increasing convenience and personalisation. He also outlined possible threats of connected technologies. “Unsecure smart devices expose us to cyberattacks and jeopardise the safety of consumers”, noted Deo Debattista. The Parliamentary Secretary said that the MCCAA has been working with other member states and secured the necessary support for the New Deal EU Legislation that revisits consumer legislation to ensure that consumers continue to have their rights protected in the face of this changing products environment. 

During her address, MCCAA Chairperson Helga Pizzuto emphasised the important role of the MCCAA to ensure that consumers are well informed on the potential risks arising from smart connected products such that they can fully benefit from the connected world they are living in without falling victim to security and privacy attacks. She added that as regulators, “we have a responsibility to ensure that consumers are aware of both the benefits and the threats of using intelligent devices so that they can make the right choices and maximise the benefits of technology”.

During the conference, speakers from the European Commission, the University of Malta, the Malta Police Force, the Information and Data Protection Commission, the GRTU and consumer law experts, discussed the effect of smart technology on consumers’ everyday lives. The users’ privacy and safety was also a key discussion topic with the importance for full consumer awareness of personal data use being underlined.

The conference’s speakers also provided insights into the legislative changes that are underway or that need to be implemented to ensure effective consumer protection. In her address, the MCCAA chairperson stressed that when carrying out, “the required legal changes, we need to be pro-active and whenever possible anticipate future problems, hence avoiding incident-driven regulation.”

The conference reinforced collaboration amongst relevant stakeholders to ensure stronger consumer protection and empowerment.

15 March 2018

World Consumer Rights Day half-day conference: "Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer"

This year’s World Consumer Rights Day conference organized by the MCCAA focused on how consumers can be best safeguarded in today’s digital world.

Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Valletta 2018 Deo Debattista said that online shopping is nowadays entwined in consumers’ everyday lives. In fact, more than half of the Maltese population opts to shop online for the goods and services it requires.

“The importance of e-commerce to small countries like Malta is evident, as the 2017 Consumer Conditions Scoreboard rates Malta among the countries who are more likely to buy online, not only from another EU Member State, but also from outside the EU. The limited product choice on our island and competitive prices found online tend to urge our consumers to venture more in online shopping,” Debattista noted.

During Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it was this Government’s priority to make as much progress as possible on the legislative dossiers, which aimed at strengthening the Digital Single Market. A very important achievement was the general approach reached for the Review of the Consumer Protection Co-operation Regulation, a Regulation which aims at modernising cooperation between national administrations and reducing damage for consumers because of cross-border infringements to EU consumer law.

“The Maltese Government is committed to change this by implementing initiatives and policies that encourage entrepreneurs to take their business online. E-commerce presents a great opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises to reach new customers,” the Parliamentary Secretary said.

During her address Chairperson for the MCCAA, Ing. Helga Pizzuto, emphasised the importance for consumer authorities, consumer associations and the digital market platforms to work together to provide consumers with access to fair and secure markets.

She added that “Digital market places are providing unprecedented choice and convenience to consumers. That the consumer is benefitting from access to a global digital market is confirmed by the steady rise in online sales. This in turn necessitates a review of the safety nets, which need to be in place to ensure that consumers’ rights are safeguarded at all times. The theme of this year’s World Consumer Conference puts the spotlight on this reality”.