On March 15, the Science, Technology, and Environment Committee of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Consumer Protection Association jointly organized a Launching Ceremony in response to Vietnam Consumer Rights Day 2024.
The Launching Ceremony was implemented in coordination with the National Competition Commission (Ministry of Industry and Trade) and VTC Digital Television Station (Voice of Vietnam).
With the theme “Transparent Information – Safe Consumption,” the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed the importance of providing transparent information to ensure a safe consumption environment for consumers, the community, and society as a whole.
LEGAL SHIELD FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION
This year, the launch of Vietnam Consumer Rights Day 2024 holds special significance as it coincides with the passage of the Consumer Rights Protection Law in June 2023, which will take effect from July 1 this year”
Recalling the history, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stated that the protection of consumer rights has a crucial position and role in the sustainable development of the country. Therefore, in 2010, the Consumer Rights Protection Law was introduced. Subsequently, the system of legal guidance documents has been continuously improved and supplemented to swiftly put the provisions of the law into practice.
Over the past nearly 12 years, consumer rights protection efforts have achieved many positive results: awareness of this issue has significantly increased, and a system of consumer rights protection agencies and organizations has been established and continuously strengthened.
However, faced with the practical requirements of economic development, the particular consumption trends in the context of various difficulties and challenges, and emerging forms of consumer rights violations, on June 20, 2023, the National Assembly passed the Consumer Rights Protection Law.
The 2023 Consumer Rights Protection Law comprehensively amends the 2010 Consumer Rights Protection Law and adds many provisions to ensure consistency with the existing legal system and timely adjust to emerging issues.
One of the significant provisions in the 2023 Law is the continuation of designating March 15 as Vietnam Consumer Rights Day each year. This not only reaffirms the role, position, and importance of consumer rights protection work but also provides a stronger legal basis to mobilize the attention, response, and participation of the entire society in protecting consumer rights.
“The upcoming implementation of the Consumer Rights Protection Law will be a strong driving force and of great value in further enhancing the effectiveness of Vietnam’s consumer rights protection work. I believe,” Tan said.
From a business perspective, Nguyen Duy Vuong, Head of the External Relations Department – Heineken Vietnam, believes that the launch of Vietnam Consumer Rights Day encourages businesses to increasingly provide high-value solutions for consumers.
In the beverage industry, with the mission of “satisfying consumers,” in addition to prioritizing health and safe consumption, Heineken continuously innovates technology, invests in research to improve product quality, ensures transparency in testing products before they enter the market. At the same time, Heineken listens to customer feedback to offer products that align with consumer preferences, aiming for a healthy, responsible, and moderate lifestyle.
In the current context, with enhanced awareness of sustainable development, Heineken takes the lead in environmental protection efforts and pioneers in implementing the expanded responsibility of manufacturers to create environmentally-friendly products.
EARLY ISSUANCE OF GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
To effectively implement the Consumer Rights Protection Law, including making Vietnam Consumer Rights Day a regular habit throughout the entire production, business, and activities of institutions and organizations, Deputy Chairman of the Science, Technology, and Environment Committee of the National Assembly, Ta Dinh Thi, proposed three areas of implementation to ensure effectiveness.
First, Clearly define the protection of consumer rights as the shared responsibility of the entire political system and society as a whole, rather than focusing on a single agency or entity. In addition to the enforcement by Government agencies, units of the National Assembly are responsible for oversight to timely detect, recommend, and propose policy adjustments and legislation to continuously improve the effectiveness of the regulations.
In particular, during the law enforcement process, all agencies and units need to actively engage in dialogue with businesses and consumers to promptly resolve difficulties and challenges that arise during implementation.
Secondly, Enhance the responsibility, proactiveness, and creativity of agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in consumer rights protection work. Individuals, organizations, and leaders of agencies and units need to fully recognize and demonstrate a high sense of responsibility, proactiveness, and determination in leading and directing the assigned consumer rights protection tasks.
There is a need to mobilize all forces to participate in communication, information, and ensure wide, timely, and accurate dissemination of the contents of the Law. It is important to consider utilizing information technology in communication efforts, such as using social media to promote the Law.
To promptly implement the provisions of the Law, Thi suggested that Government agencies ensure the issuance of guidance documents and detailed regulations without overlapping, confusion, or burdening businesses with unreasonable procedures.
Thirdly, Raise awareness and understanding of the protection of consumer rights among market participants. The economic development trends increasingly highlight the role of consumers in the success or failure of businesses.
However, consumers face limitations in accessing and exercising their rights. Therefore, Thi believes that market participants have a responsibility to support consumers, especially businesses and social organizations.
For businesses, it is necessary to recognize that protecting consumer rights is not only an obligation but also their own rights and a responsibility for the common interests of society.
