World Consumer Rights Day – Making digital marketplaces fairer

To mark World Consumer Rights Day the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) organised a conference themed ‘Making digital marketplaces fairer’ on 15 March 2018.

Alicia GONZÁLEZ CHAVES,  from Directorate-General Justice and Consumer,  European Commission gave a presentation on  “The Rapid Alert System: What’s in it for you?” which is a system for rapid exchange of information between MS and EFTA/EEA countries (28+3) and the European Commission about measures and actions taken in relation to products posing a serious risk to consumers.

Ing Michael Cassar, Director Market Surveillance Directorate ACCAA, spoke about how consumers can have more  peace of mind when shopping online in his presentation “Shopping online? Yes, you can have more  peace of mind!”

Grace Stivala, Director (Enforcement) Office for Consumer Affairs, ACCAA, gave a presentation on “Safeguarding Consumers in the Digital World” and spoke about the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, EU Wide Screening of websites (Sweeps), enforcement joint actions as well as a New upcoming package proposal aimed at ensuring cheaper and more effective means to stop and remedy breaches harming multiple EU consumers simultaneously.

Dr. Phyllis Bezzina from the European Consumer Centre Malta gave a presentation on “The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)”, outlining The role of the ECCs, requests for information and complaints received  and about finding the best dispute resolution solution

Denise Borda, eCommerce Analyst at MCA spoke about “MCA’s role in driving eCommerce”.

Grace Attard, General Secretary, Association Consumer Rights Malta (ACR) EESC/CCMI delegate gave a presentation “Consumers: stakeholders in online platforms” in which she outlined aspects such as challenges and concerns that consumers face when they opt to shop online, complaints handling and means of redress that consumers may avail themselves of when they encounter problems with online purchases.

Marcel Mizzi, Vice President GRTU (Malta Chamber of SMEs) spoke about  “Barriers to eCommerce Seller’s perspective.”

Dr Geraldine Spiteri gave a presentation on “Geo-Blocking –New Challenges?”

For more information on ACCAA see http://www.mccaa.org.mt/en/home