Consumer Protection Act

Product Labeling Requirements

• Manufacturer, importer, or re-packer's address in Bhutan
• Ingredients and compositions
• Net weight, measure, or numerical count
• Country of manufacture
• Date of manufacture and expiry date

The Office of Consumer Protection

• Enforce provisions of the Act
• Disseminate information and educate consumers on their rights
• Advise and educate consumers on various matters, including:
  • Legal rights and remedies
  • Health risks
  • Product hazards
  • Weight and measures, prices, quality, credit conditions
  • Product labeling
  • Safety, durability, performance, and repairability
• Receive complaints from consumers and facilitate redress of grievances
• Investigate detrimental trade practices and address issues
• Monitor market and trade practices, ensure ethical conduct
• Promote fair trade practices, market competition, and consumer choices
• Carry out research on consumer issues and emerging concerns

Consumerism and Consumer Protection in Bhutan

• Consumerism: protection or promotion of consumer interests, organized efforts to protect consumers from unfair practices
• Need for consumerism: markets often have shortages, adulteration, black markets, and profit-oriented businesses neglect social responsibilities
• Components of consumerism:
  • Consumer awareness and action against exploitation
  • Voluntary consumer organizations promoting consumer interests
  • Business self-regulation for consumer protection

Problems Faced by Consumers

• Pricing
• Adulteration
• Duplication
• Artificial demand
• Ignore standard
• Advertising
• Product risk
• Warranty and services

Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

• Rights:
  • Protection of life, health, and safety
  • True, sufficient, clear, and timely education on goods and services
  • Fair, non-discriminatory, and equitable treatment
  • Access to a variety of products at competitive prices
  • Redress against unfair trade practices
  • Forming consumer associations
  • A physical environment that enhances the quality of life
  • Basic goods and services for dignified living
• Responsibilities:
  • Promoting awareness of goods and services
  • Solidarity with consumer groups
  • Social responsibility to preserve cultural, social, and economic traditions
  • Environmental responsibility in consumption patterns
  • Safe environment for consuming goods and services

Duties of Business Entities

• Respect and protect consumer rights and economic interests
• Promote ethical and fair trade practices
• Provide adequate information on goods and services
• Refrain from unfair practices, such as:
  • Charging different prices for the same goods or services
  • Supplying different quality goods or services
  • Denying services or goods based on discriminatory criteria
  • Excluding certain groups from accessing goods or services
• Comply with safety standards and recall unsafe products
• Display goods for sale with prices and affix labels with necessary information