– The Ministry of National Economy, which is responsible for consumer protection, cooperates actively and constructively with all actors of the institutional system of consumer protection in order to protect Hungarian families. In Wednesday's meetings held by the ministry, both representatives of civil organizations and heads of conciliation bodies expressed their commitment to further strengthening consumer protection, and the two parties also decided to establish a new consultative forum, the ministry wrote in its announcement. .
In the domestic institutional system, in addition to the Ministry of National Economy in charge of consumer protection and government offices working in the Consumer Protection Authority, consumer protection associations and conciliation bodies also perform very important tasks. Therefore, representatives of the department agreed to coordinate the implementation of tasks and cooperate closely with the heads of consumer protection associations and conciliation bodies.
The announcement pointed out that consumer protection associations play an important role in increasing consumer awareness.
For this reason, the Civil Forum for Consumer Protection was created, which discusses current consumer protection issues at regular meetings and makes proposals to increase the effectiveness of consumer protection.
Within the framework of cooperation, in addition to ongoing consultation, the Ministry of National Economy supports NGOs in maintaining free telephone customer service and in increasing consumer awareness of school students, as it also plans to hold joint presentations with NGOs for school-age children.
From 1 January 2024, the Ministry in charge of Consumer Protection will provide professional supervision of conciliation bodies that can be used for the quick, free and simple settlement of legal disputes between consumers and businesses. In this context, professional consultations continue between the Ministry and the heads of regional reconciliation bodies for the unified application of the law. At the meeting, in addition to discussing current topics, the two parties also reviewed potential directions for possible expansion of the powers of conciliation bodies and increasing the awareness of the bodies.
Bence Gerlaki, Deputy Secretary of State responsible for Economic Development, Investment, Consumer Protection and Trade Strategy, said:
The Government and the Ministry of National Economy make every effort to enforce consumer rights and thus protect Hungarian families, and for this purpose cooperate closely with other actors in the institutional system of consumer protection and pay special attention to enhancing consumer awareness in order to prevent abuses.
The members of the Civic Forum for Consumer Protection are: Baranja County Consumer Protection Association, Southern Great Plain Regional Consumer Protection Association, Digital Societies Development Association, Consumer and Patients Rights Interests Protection Association, National Association of Consumer Protection Associations, and Hungarian Association for Consumer Protection. Consumer Defenders, FOK Association of Consumer Advocates and Environmental Defenders, Central Consumer Protection Association of Hungary and Nimbus Consumer Protection Association.
