Consumer Protection Agency was established to effectively achieve social justice, ensure providing citizens with high quality services at proper prices and counter monopoly.
By Alaa Abdelwanis
In this regard, the agency’s CEO Ahmed Samir said there is no such thing as pricing in open markets, since this leads eventually to shortage in products, monopoly and absence of accountability. But, this process is subject to supply and demand, and the supervisory bodies’ role is based on studying price indicators. This is carried out by Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) which has over 25,000 stations to monitor process. These stations work with all monitoring agencies to keep a close eye on prices and fight high pricing. This is best reflected in how prices are totally normal in some governorates, while they are ridiculously high in others. That’s why CPA now seeks to cover all Egypt, as it is now coordinating with different governorates to have offices in them.
Moreover, the state is now cooperating with CPA in a different way, i.e., offering commodities at commissaries to other stores subsidiary to ministry of supply. It aims through this to control the market and balance prices. Among other mechanisms adopted by government, in this regard, is raising awareness among citizens concerning markets, prices and best related choices.
CEO Ahmed Samir pointed out that the state applies Customer Protection Act no. 67 of the year 2006. Yet, the parliament is now discussing a related draft bill and if it is approved, it will result into massive benefits to consumers, similar to those provided in Europe.
Under this new act, the return policy will be extended to a whole month and a legal warrantee on durable goods to a year. This means that importers will be forced to get the best products. Moreover, sanctions were intensified, ranging from EGP 10K to 1m. We have also introduced the “Smiley Face” certificate which is given to places that commit to protecting and satisfying consumers.
