Main Department of Trade and Services: in 2023, the motto of Consumer Day is "A knowledgeable consumer is a responsible business"

In the Republic of Belarus, as well as around the world, Consumer Day is celebrated on March 15.

The global scale of the holiday testifies to the significance of the consumer protection mechanism in the social and economic policy of any modern state.

In the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade coordinates activities in the field of consumer protection. Other state bodies, within their competence, consider issues related to consumer protection in various spheres of activity.

In the regions, state policy in the field of consumer protection is implemented by regional, city, and district executive committees.

Over the past year, structural divisions of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, city and district executive committees have considered 368 appeals from citizens on consumer protection issues, of which 148 (40%) were in the sphere of trade, 108 (29%) in housing and communal services, and 78 (21%) in consumer services.

Based on the results of the review, 14 orders were issued to eliminate violations of the law, and administrative proceedings were initiated in 9 cases (of which, in 4 cases, a decision was made to release from administrative responsibility with a warning). Pre-trial compensation for material damage amounted to 8.52 thousand rubles.

In 2023, Consumer Day in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union is celebrated under the motto "Informed Consumer – Responsible Business".

This theme is intended to draw attention to the need to form a space of mutual respect and trust between consumers and businesses. The foundation for such work is laid by the Program of Joint Actions of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union in the field of consumer protection, which provides for informing and educating the population on relevant topics.

In order to increase consumer literacy, authorized persons for consumer protection in local executive committees provide advisory assistance and organize appearances in the media,

the placement of relevant materials on the official websites of executive committees is ensured etc.