Start date: 22 April, 2020
Closing date: 12 May, 2020
Title of the public consultation: An Act to amend the Consumer Affairs Act, Cap. 378 and other Laws, and to make ancillary and consequential provisions thereto.
Ministry: Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection (MTCP)
Entity: Office for Consumer Affairs within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA)
1. Background
The purpose of the proposed Bill is to make the necessary amendments in the Consumer Affairs Act in order to:
Article 42 of the EU Regulation establishes that the Regulation “shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.”
This regulation repeals Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004, which regulation already provides for harmonised rules and procedures to facilitate cooperation between the national authorities that are responsible for the enforcement of cross-border consumer protection laws however more rapid, agile and consistent enforcement of consumer rules was deemed necessary and new measures have been introduced in Regulation 2017/2394 to address, in a more effective manner, enforcement in cases of cross-border infringements, including infringements in the digital environment.
The EU Regulation lays down the conditions under which national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws, cooperate and coordinate actions with each other and with the Commission, in order to enforce compliance with those laws and to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market, and in order to enhance the protection of consumers’ economic interests.
To implement the EU Regulation, the proposed Bill provides amendments to:
- there has been a material change in any of the facts on which the judgment was based; or
- the person concerned acted contrary to its commitments; or
- the judgment was based on incomplete, incorrect, or misleading information provided by the concerned person;
2. Documents Proposed Bill in Maltese and English.
3. Submission of feedback should be received through the following channels (choose from the following):
Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority
Mizzi House,
National Road,
Blata L-Bajda HMR 9010
Public Consultation is Legislative