Government approves Consumer Protection Bill: Retail chains to be required to publish price lists on their websites daily

The Serbian Government approved the Consumer Protection Bill at its latest session, which will be submitted to the parliamentary procedure. An important new feature introduced by the Consumer Protection Act, as announced by the Ministry of Domestic and Foreign Trade, is that retail chains will be required to publish product price lists on their websites and on their accounts on the National Open Data Portal - on a daily basis.

– According to this law, retailers are required to update their price lists with every price change, in real time, so that the data always corresponds to the actual, current prices in stores and online sales, so that consumers are informed accurately and in a timely manner – the ministry emphasizes.

The new Act, it is added, also brings advances towards greater transparency, reliability and efficiency of consumer protection in the digital environment.

– This law further regulates relations regarding contracts for the sale of goods with a digital element, the delivery of digital content and digital services and introduces obligations of online market providers (sale of goods via online platforms, online market providers are equated with traders in terms of their obligations towards consumers) – the statement points out.

Also, the new law sanctions as unfair business practice if a trader uses false consumer reviews, if in advertising it is not stated that it is a paid advertisement, if a trader misleads the consumer as to whether product reviews were given by consumers who actually used or purchased the product.

The new law also provides for the introduction of trader liability for non-conformity of goods due to incorrect installation as a result of a deficiency in the instructions provided by the trader, or trader liability for non-conformity of digital services or digital content due to incorrect integration into the digital environment as a result of a deficiency in the instructions provided by the trader.

In particular, the new Law also brings better protection for minors and public health, because the legal framework defines a ban on the sale to minors, in addition to classic tobacco and related products - electronic devices for heating tobacco or herbal products and electronic cigarettes.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo unutrašnje i spoljne trgovine Republike Srbije

Government of Serbia

Ministry of Domestic and Foreign Trade

Consumer Protection Bill