Consumer protection a top governmental priority

The participants hope more effective consumer protection.

Prime Minister Ali Mujawar renewed the government’s commitment towards the protection of consumers’ rights on Monday.

Embedded within his speech to a World Consumer Day gathering, Mujawar reiterated the governments’ focus on the discovery and implementation of those laws which protect the rights of consumers throughout Yemen.

The government is moving towards effective consumer protection, with the approval of legislation that compensates any abuses created as a result of receiving good or service not in conformity with national specifications and standards. Mujawar emphasized how the International Day for Consumer reflects the aspirations of Yemeni consumers. The majority of consumers in Yemen yearn for a reality where their desire to obtain goods and services fits within the paradigm of rigidly implemented national standards and technical regulations.

Mujawar maintains that consumer protection is a top governmental priority. He pointed to governmental initiatives for the preparation of the national strategy for food security, which responds to urgent priorities at the national level. The national strategy for food security seeks to address all possibilities with the resources and energies of the state, under the framework of an effective partnership with the community and other concerned organizations.

Mujawar said that the government seeks to achieve the highest levels of protection from the vagaries of the international market through the realization of food security. “This means that our goal does not stop at the borders of the provision of goods and services. It goes beyond, ensuring the highest levels of security, quality and equity in the provision of services, according to the appropriate consumption environment, taking into account the rights of the consumer, producer and importer,” Mujawar said.

“The government adopted a series of programs and actions in order to achieve its goals, such as the International Certificate of Conformity Program (ICCP), to ensure goods in conformity with international specifications and standards.      In solidarity with nations from around the world, Yemen marked the day under the banner, “Our Money, Our Rights.”

The Prime Minister confirmed that the government would push forward with plans to develop the market environment in order to present goods and services to Yemeni consumers, while still providing proper protection.

He called for enhanced coordination between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Non-Government Organizations representing the commercial and industrial sector to improve consumption realities in the country.

Mujawar also said that the government would support ministry efforts to protect the rights of consumers.

The Minister of Industry and Trade and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection, Dr. Yahya al-Mutawakil, said the ministry is working with all available possibilities to transform the directions of state and government that sets consumer protection as its top priority. He pointed out that the ministry has worked to pass a law to protect the consumer. However, implementing regulations and complicated institutional arrangements dictated by law and regulation have slowed the process.

Al-Mutawakel renewed the primary emphasis on the enforcement of consumer protection law. He reviewed some of the issues dealt with by the ministry recently to protect the consumer, such as imbalances recorded in the banking services, in addition to the issue of domestic gas.

“The slogan of this year’s celebration is linked to the concerns of the ministry. They oversee one of the most important tools; efficient recruitment of financial services in the development through micro-finance services,” al-Mutawakel said.

The Chairman of the Yemeni Consumer Association, Fadhel Mansour, discussed consumer struggles, such as commercial fraud and smuggling. Mansour also explored the governmental program designed to enhance consumer protection and its failings. “We had optimistic action undertaken by the government on ICCP. Indeed, this program was a failure because it faced stiff resistance from the commercial sector,” Mansour said. “We are sure that the strict application of this program would overcome many shortcomings, and ensure the safe flow of consumer goods.”

The celebration was attended by a number of ministers and specialists from relevant authorities.

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