Law No. 583 on consumer cooperation.

This Law determines legal, organizational, economic and social conditions for the functioning of consumer cooperation on the territory of Tajikistan, is aimed at strengthening of democratic principles and ensuring autonomous consumer cooperation, development of economic initiative and entrepreneurship of its organizations and enterprises, protection of interests and state support of consumer associations and their unions. Consumer cooperation is entitled to carry out trade, procurements, processing, external trade and other activity that is not prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, to contribute actively to the social transformation of rural areas, formation and development of dehkan farms and personal farms, increase of food resources and other consumer commodities and the improvement of consumer service of the population. Consumer associations and their unions form the Republican Union of Consumer Associations that comprehends on voluntary principle cooperatives, joint-stock and other organizations. The state concedes to consumer associations and their unions the right to obtain in accordance with the modalities envisaged by the legislation currently in force the plots of land in lease and in ownership. Organizations and enterprises of consumer cooperation are authorized to develop purchase of agricultural commodities and raw materials and to carry out vending of processed and fresh agricultural commodities. The Law consists of 5 Sections. Section 1 lays down general provisions. Section 2 establishes the relationship between the state and consumer cooperation. Section 3 regards the property of consumer cooperation. Section 4 lays down the basis of economic and social activity of consumer cooperation. Section 5 regards external economic ties and external trade of consumer cooperation.