World Consumer Rights Day 2023
Strengthening consumers’ rights in today’s dynamic markets
To mark this year’s World Consumer Rights Day, internationally celebrated on the 15th of March, the Office for Consumer Affairs within the MCCAA, is organising a half-day conference themed: Strengthening consumers’ rights in today’s dynamic markets.
Markets are rapidly and continually evolving, and these changes are not only affecting consumers’ purchase behaviour but also posing new challenges for consumer protection regulators. To meet these new challenges, existing consumer protection rules have recently been amended through the coming into force of a new legal framework, The Omnibus Directive. By amending four main consumer protection directives, the new legislation imposes additional information requirements on online markets, better regulates price reduction promotions, enhances the right for consumers who subscribe to ‘free’ digital services, and also imposes new requirements for ranking and search results, online consumer reviews, personalised pricing and re-sale of event tickets. In addition, the new modernised rules impose heftier penalties on traders who do not comply with their legal obligation and consequently cause harm to many European consumers.
Distinguished speakers participating in the World Consumer Rights Day Conference will discuss how this new legal framework will better equip consumers to meet the challenges they encounter in today’s evolving markets. Academics in marketing and consumer psychology will discuss consumer behaviour whilst shopping online and also how digital marketing techniques are influencing consumers’ purchase choices. The impact of the new rules on both consumers and businesses will also be debated in a panel discussion involving professionals representing consumers’ interests and the business community.
This year’s World Consumer Rights Day conference will be held on Wednesday 15th March at the Palace Hotel in Sliema. The conference will be addressed by speakers from the European Commission, Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Malta, the MCCAA, legal experts on consumer affairs, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and the Malta Chamber of SMEs.
Attendance at the conference is free of charge.
Early registration is advisable as seats are limited. Registrations will be accepted on a first come first-serve basis.