Paulina Quintao – The National of Parliament has approved consumer protection law that allow for complaints against shop owners if the goods bought were of poor quality.

National MP Jorge da Conceicao Teme said the law was necessary as 99% of goods and materials in Timor-Leste were imported.

"It is very important to protect the rights of citizens who spend their money on buying goods so that when there is any problem they have the right to complain," said Teme at the National Parliament.

Under the law, consumers will have the right to complain to shop owners about faulty or poor quality goods and could ask to exchange the item or receive a refund. Goods providers and shop owners who breach the law will also be subject administrative sanctions or penalties.

Teme advised that complaints should first be addressed to goods providers or shop owners and if the consumer was still not satisfied with the outcome the matter could then be pursued in court.He also called on the government to raise awareness about the new law so that people better understood their rights and obligations as consumers. He said the law had now been passed to the President for approval and would then be implemented.

Dili resident Luis Jose Oliveira do Santos said that as a consumer he appreciated the initiative to protect the rights of consumers.

"We see many goods that have passed their use-by date, but they (shop owners) continue to sell them [and this] could harm people's health so the law is very important," he said.

He also called on the competent institutions to take serious action in implementing the law so that consumers were no longer powerless and had a legal basis to pursue their rights.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13810-parliament-approves-consumer-protection-law