Cinderella revisited - remembering World Consumer Rights Day

On March 15 of each year consumer movements the world over join forces to recall World Consumer Rights Day when, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy established four consumer rights in a speech to the American Congress. That declaration paved the way for international recognition of certain basic consumer rights.

In Malta consumer protection remains in various sectors very much a poor distant cousin when compared to other interests - a sort of Cinderella to whom, regrettably, only lip service is paid in many instances.

Of equal concern is the fact that consumer protection, even if only for cosmetic purposes, rarely ever features on the agenda of the powers-that-be. How often do we hear of any concrete action taken to curb some unfair or detrimental practice? Is it because there are no problems in the market place and that all concerned strictly abide by the rules? I hardly think that is the case.

The main shortcoming that has persistently undermined consumer rights and interests in Malta is the lack of active consumer interest and participation. Most consumers in Malta are interested in consumer rights only when they have a problem. Once the problem is somehow resolved then any interest in consumer rights evaporates into thin air.

This attitude has, in turn, conditioned competent authorities who feel that consumer rights still feature very low on the list of priorities of the average Maltese consumer. Matters would have been different if people took consumer protection more seriously and collectively actively lobbied the government. Indeed, over the years there have been some instances where things might have been dealt with differently had consumers been more vocal - the Doulous episode of some months ago is a case in point.

With a small consumer association composed of a few volunteers with meagre financial resources, one cannot in all fairness expect the local consumer movement to be able effectively to deal with every consumer issue that arises. The market place is becoming more and more complex and any valid comments to promote the consumer interest can only effectively be done after adequate research and study - something which the consumer association is able to do only occasionally.

One obvious solution - that has, incidentally, been applied in many European countries, including various EU acceding states - is for the government to support in part the expenses the association incurs, thereby enabling it to effectively perform its role.

Of course, all is not gloom and black. Some progress - prompted, I suspect, in many instances by the need to comply with EU acquis requirements - has been achieved in recent years. There is a functional government department, undermanned perhaps in certain critical areas (such as compliance), responsible for consumer protection. Furthermore, in recent years various important laws have been introduced, notably on the sale of goods to consumers, unfair terms, advertising and package travel, to mention a few. There has also been a slow but significant improvement in the way certain commercial outlets treat their customers. In an increasingly competitive business environment more businesses are realising the importance of voluntarily offering their customers tangible means of redress if and when things go wrong.

Ultimately, it is the combination of effective competition in the market place, coupled with an effective consumer lobby, that should underlie future measures in ensuring that consumers get a fair deal.