Consumer Protection Act, no. 21 of 2023.

This Act, divided into thirteen parts and consisting of 183 sections, applies to all persons involved in trade or business, whether through the purchasing or supplying of goods or services, and therefore provides for: the promotion and protection of consumer interests, in relation to the supply of goods and the provision of services; establishing a legal framework for the achievement and maintenance of a fair, efficient and responsible consumer market; promoting fair business practices; promoting environmental responsibility in consumer markets; protecting consumers from misleading or fraudulent conduct, and from unfair trade practices; improving consumer awareness and information and encouraging responsible and informed consumer choice and behaviour. The Act covers and defines the following relevant terms: acquisition of goods; appeals Tribunal; business; commercial purposes; complaint; goods and services hazardous to life and health; consumer agreement; goods, including all kinds of property other than immovable property, securities or money; agreement for the purchase of goods; sustainable consumption.
The Act provides for establishing the Consumer Protection Board and its functions and duties, including: receiving complaints and reports from the Department; monitoring the investigation of a complaint; resolving disagreements between consumers and suppliers in relation to goods and services. Concerning the receipt and investigation of complaints, the Act empowers the Board to obtain information, necessary documents and evidence; inspect premises and equipments and take samples of goods. The Act also specifies: rights and obligations of persons summoned; procedure for resolving complaints and disputes in relation to goods and in relation to services; proper analysis and laboratory report in case of defects; composition, functions, powers and proceedings of the appeals Tribunal; terms of consumer agreement and liability; protection of consumer rights, including right to access to information in plain and understandable language; duties of suppliers, including: registration, product labelling and trade descriptions; disclosure of environmental facts, including: ingredients or components presenting a chemical or biological hazard to humans and the environment, nature and intensity of any potentially harmful energy radiation, provisions for waste disposal.
Further matters covered by this Act include: quality of goods and services; ingredients, expiry date and other specifications to appear outside packaged food products, and related penalties; prohibition respecting selling expired goods; disclosure of price of goods and services; damage resulting from use of goods or service; loss or damage of defective goods or negligence of manufacture; unfair trade practices, and false, misleading or deceptive representation; consumer safety and related safety requirements; recall of goods; distance selling; miscellaneous provisions.